Are we“ out of our minds,” as some people say? If so, it is because we want to serve God. Does what we say make sense? If so, it is because we want to serve you.

我们若果癫狂，是为神；若果谨守，是为你们。

如果我们癫狂，是为上帝；如果我们清醒，是为你们。

如果我们癫狂，是为神；如果我们清醒，是为你们。

如果我们疯狂，那是为了上帝；如果我们清醒，那是为了你们。

如果我们疯狂，那是为了神；如果我们清醒，那是为了你们。

因为我们如果癫狂，是为了神；如果清醒，是为了你们。

我們若果顛狂，是為神；若果謹守，是為你們。

如果我們癲狂，是為上帝；如果我們清醒，是為你們。

如果我們癲狂，是為神；如果我們清醒，是為你們。

如果我們瘋狂，那是為了上帝；如果我們清醒，那是為了你們。

如果我們瘋狂，那是為了神；如果我們清醒，那是為了你們。

我們如果瘋癲，乃是為着上帝；如果神志清明，乃是為着你們。

因為我們如果癲狂，是為了神；如果清醒，是為了你們。

我若狂則為上帝、若自制、則為爾曹、

我若狂、緣上帝而然、我自若、緣爾曹而然、

我若狂、乃為天主、我若拘謹、乃為爾曹、

蓋吾人之醉、為天主也。而吾人之醒、為爾曹也。

If we are“ out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

If it seems we are crazy, it is to bring glory to God. And if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.

For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

For if we have lost our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.

For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we have a sound mind, it is for you.

For whether we be beside ourselves,[ it is] to God: or whether we be sober,[ it is] for your cause.

For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.

For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.

I hope you will put up with me in a little foolish bragging. Yes, please put up with me!

I will say it again. Don’t let anyone think I’m a fool. But if you do, put up with me just as you would put up with a fool. Then I can do a little bragging.When I brag about myself like this, I’m not talking the way the Lord would. I’m talking like a fool.

While Paul was still presenting his case, Festus interrupted.“ You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted.“ Your great learning is driving you crazy!”“ I am not crazy, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied.“ What I am saying is true and reasonable.

I have made a fool of myself. But you made me do it. You should have praised me. Even though I am nothing, I am in no way less important than the“ super- apostles.”

Suppose I decide to brag. That would not make me a fool, because I would be telling the truth. But I don’t brag, so that no one will think more of me than they should. People should judge me by what I do and say.

We are fools for Christ. But you are so wise in Christ! We are weak. But you are so strong! You are honored. But we are looked down on!Up to this very hour we are hungry and thirsty. We are dressed in rags. We are being treated badly. We have no homes.We work hard with our own hands. When others curse us, we bless them. When we are attacked, we put up with it.When others say bad things about us, we answer with kind words. We have become the world’s garbage. We are everybody’s trash, right up to this moment.

David said to Michal,“ I did it to honor the Lord. He chose me instead of your father or anyone else in Saul’s family. The Lord appointed me ruler over his people Israel. I will celebrate to honor the Lord.And that’s not all. I will bring even less honor to myself. I will bring even more shame on myself. But those female slaves you spoke about will honor me.”

God’s grace has been given to me. So here is what I say to every one of you. Don’t think of yourself more highly than you should. Be reasonable when you think about yourself. Keep in mind the faith God has given to each of you.

So I put up with everything for the good of God’s chosen people. Then they also can be saved. Christ Jesus saves them. He gives them glory that will last forever.

I am happy because of what I am suffering for you. My suffering joins with and continues the sufferings of Christ. I suffer for his body, which is the church.

Our good news didn’t come to you only in words. It came with power. It came with the Holy Spirit’s help. He gave us complete faith in what we were preaching. You know how we lived among you for your good.

So even though I wrote to you, it wasn’t because of the one who did the wrong. It wasn’t because of the one who was hurt either. Instead, I wrote you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how faithful you are to us.

The appeal we make is based on truth. It comes from a pure heart. We are not trying to trick you.In fact, it is just the opposite. God has approved us to preach. He has trusted us with the good news. We aren’t trying to please people. We want to please God. He tests our hearts.As you know, we never praised you if we didn’t mean it. We didn’t put on a mask to cover up any sinful desire. God is our witness that this is true.We were not expecting people to praise us. We were not looking for praise from you or anyone else. Yet as Christ’s apostles, we could have used our authority over you.Instead, we were like young children when we were with you. As a mother feeds and cares for her little children,we cared for you. We loved you so much. So we were happy to share with you God’s good news. We were also happy to share our lives with you.Brothers and sisters, I am sure you remember how hard we worked. We labored night and day while we preached to you God’s good news. We didn’t want to cause you any expense.You are witnesses of how we lived among you believers. God is also a witness that we were holy and godly and without blame.You know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.