2 Corinthians 10

1 Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who indeed am lowly in presence among you, but am bold toward you when absent.

Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Messiah; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

2 But I pray not to be bold when present with the confidence by which I consider to be valiant toward some who consider us as walking according to flesh.

But I implore you that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence with which I intend on showing against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

3 For though walking in flesh, we do not war according to flesh.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh;

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for the demolition of strongholds,

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty in God for the tearing down of strongholds,

5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought captive into the obedience of the Christ,

throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Messiah;

6 and having in readiness to avenge every disobedience, whenever your obedience is fulfilled.

and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.

7 Do ye look at things according to appearance. If any man has convinced himself to be of Christ, let him consider this again of himself, that, as he is of Christ, so also are we of Christ.

Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Messiah's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Messiah's, so also we are Messiah's.

8 For even if I also should boast somewhat more abundantly about our authority (which the Lord gave us for building up and not for tearing you down), I will not be shamed,

For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,

9 so that I would not seem as if to terrify you by the letters.

that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

10 Because, The letters, he says, are indeed weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is disdained.

For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."

11 Let such a man think this, that such kind we are in word by letters when absent, we are also such kind when present in the work.

Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

12 For we dare not classify or compare ourselves to some of those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves to themselves, do not understand.

For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

13 But we will not boast in things immeasurable, but according to the measure of the standard that God apportioned to us, of a measure to reach even as far as you.

But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.

14 For it is not as not reaching for you. We overextend ourselves. For we even reached as far as you in the good news of the Christ,

For we do not stretch ourselves too much, as though we did not reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the gospel of Messiah,

15 not boasting in things immeasurable, in other men's labors, but having hope of your faith growing in you to be enlarged according to our measure for abundance,

not boasting excessively in the work done by others, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,

16 in order to preach the good news beyond you, not to boast in another measure, in things prepared.

so as to preach the gospel even to the regions beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

17 But he who boasts should boast in the Lord.

But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

18 For he who commends himself, that man is not approved, but whom the Lord commends.

For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.