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.

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.

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.

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

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 a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me.

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.Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool.

Suddenly, Festus shouted,“ Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”But Paul replied,“ I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth.

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.

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,

Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home.We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash— right up to the present moment.

David retorted to Michal,“ I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord.Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!”

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen.

I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ that continue for his body, the church.

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you.

My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us.

So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money!As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.You yourselves are our witnesses— and so is God— that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.