Are we commending ourselves to you again? No, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who brag about having a spectacular ministry rather than having a sincere heart.

我们不是向你们再举荐自己，乃是叫你们因我们有可夸之处，好对那凭外貌不凭内心夸口的人，有言可答。

我们不是向你们再推荐自己，而是要让你们有夸耀我们的机会，使你们好面对那凭外貌、不凭内心夸耀的人。

我们不是向你们再推荐自己，而是要让你们有夸耀我们的机会，使你们好面对那凭外貌、不凭内心夸耀的人。

我们不是称赞自己，而是让你们有机会以我们为荣，叫你们可以反驳那些只贪图外表虚荣、不注重内在实质的人。

我们不是又再向你们推荐自己，而是给你们机会以我们为乐，使你们可以应付那些只夸外貌不夸内心的人。

我们不是再次向你们推荐自己，而是给你们一个夸耀我们的机会，好让你们可以应对那些只凭外貌、不凭内心夸耀的人，

我們不是向你們再舉薦自己，乃是叫你們因我們有可誇之處，好對那憑外貌不憑內心誇口的人，有言可答。

我們不是向你們再推薦自己，而是要讓你們有誇耀我們的機會，使你們好面對那憑外貌、不憑內心誇耀的人。

我們不是向你們再推薦自己，而是要讓你們有誇耀我們的機會，使你們好面對那憑外貌、不憑內心誇耀的人。

我們不是稱讚自己，而是讓你們有機會以我們為榮，叫你們可以反駁那些只貪圖外表虛榮、不注重內在實質的人。

我們不是又再向你們推薦自己，而是給你們機會以我們為樂，使你們可以應付那些只誇外貌不誇內心的人。

我們不是再向你們推薦自己，乃是給你們有為我們誇口的機會，好使你們對那憑外貌不憑內心的人有可對付。

我們不是再次向你們推薦自己，而是給你們一個誇耀我們的機會，好讓你們可以應對那些只憑外貌、不憑內心誇耀的人，

我不復自薦、第以因我而誇之故予爾、可應對誇外貌不誇內心之人、

我豈復自薦乎、第使爾為我誇、克辨誇外貌之人、彼不誠其心、

我非復自薦與爾、惟使爾因我有可誇、可答彼憑外貌不憑內心而誇者、

吾人豈復自薦乎？亦欲使爾等於吾人之誠、有所稱道、而對於一般只重外貌、不貴內心者、知所答覆耳。

We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.

We are not trying to make an appeal to you again. But we are giving you a chance to take pride in us. Some people take pride in their looks rather than what’s in their hearts. If you take pride in us, you will be able to answer them.

We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart.

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in outward appearance rather than in the heart.

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.

For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.

We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but speak as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.

We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart.

For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to[ answer] them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.

We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart.

For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart.

Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not!

even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you.

But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours.These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ.But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.

Those who are trying to force you to be circumcised want to look good to others. They don’t want to be persecuted for teaching that the cross of Christ alone can save.And even those who advocate circumcision don’t keep the whole law themselves. They only want you to be circumcised so they can boast about it and claim you as their disciples.As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.

This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord.I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know— only God knows.Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do knowthat I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses.If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.Each time he said,“ My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.

In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.

Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!

Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth— a stranger, not your own lips.

You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these“ super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all.

When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.