2 Corinthians 10

1 Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:

Now I, Paul, am myself appealing to you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am ‘humble when present’ among you, but ‘bold when absent’ toward you).

2 yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

Yes, I beg you, that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that I will ‘dare’ to visit upon some who think that we are walking in a fleshly manner.

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

Well, we do walk about in flesh, but we do not wage war that way,

4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds);

because the weapons of our warfare are not physical, but are powerful in God for demolishing strongholds:

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

demolishing sophistries and every arrogance that sets itself up against the knowledge of God; taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ;

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

being ready to punish every act of disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

7 Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ’s, so also are we.

Do you only look at the ‘face’ of things? If anyone has persuaded himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again with himself, that just as he is Christ's, so also we are Christ's.

8 For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:

Now even if I boast a little to excess about our authority (which the Lord gave us for building up, not to tear you down), I will not act ashamed,

9 that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.

so as not to appear to agree that it is only with letters that I ‘terrify’ you.

10 For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.

Because some say, “His letters are ‘heavy’ and forceful, but his physical presence is weak, and his speech can be disdained.”

11 Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such [are we] also in deed when we are present.

Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters while absent is just what we will be in action when present.

12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

Now we do not dare to class or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves; but they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

13 But we will not glory beyond [our] measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you.

We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will stay within the boundaries that God assigned to us, a field that includes you.

14 For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ:

For we are not overextending ourselves, as though we had not reached you, because we did indeed get to you with the Gospel of Christ;

15 not glorying beyond [our] measure, [that is], in other men’s labors; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto [further] abundance,

nor do we boast ‘off limits’ in the labors of others, but we have hope that as your faith grows our boundaries will be greatly expanded through you,

16 so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, [and] not to glory in another’s province in regard of things ready to our hand.

so as to evangelize the regions beyond you (not to boast in work already done in someone else's field).

17 But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

“He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”

18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

Because it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.