16 aAgain I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little.

17 What I am saying, I am not saying 1aas the Lord would, but as bin foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

18 Since amany boast baccording to the flesh, I will boast also.

19 For you, abeing so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly.

20 For you tolerate it if anyone aenslaves you, anyone bdevours you, anyone ctakes advantage of you, anyone dexalts himself, anyone ehits you in the face.

21 To my ashame I must say that we have been bweak by comparison.

But in whatever respect anyone else cis bold—I dspeak in foolishness—I am just as bold myself.

22 Are they aHebrews? bSo am I. Are they cIsraelites? cSo am I. Are they 1ddescendants of Abraham? eSo am I.

23 Are they aservants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in 1bfar more labors, in 1cfar more imprisonments, 2dbeaten times without number, often in edanger of death.

24 Five times I received from the Jews athirty-nine lashes.

25 Three times I was abeaten with rods, once I was bstoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my acountrymen, dangers from the bGentiles, dangers in the ccity, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among dfalse brethren;

27 I have been in alabor and hardship, 1through many sleepless nights, in bhunger and thirst, often cwithout food, in cold and 2dexposure.

28 Apart from such 1external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for aall the churches.

29 Who is aweak without my being weak? Who is 1led into sin 2without my intense concern?