2 Corinthians 10

1 And I, Paul, myself, call on you—through the meekness and gentleness of the Christ—who in presence [am] indeed humble among you, and being absent, have courage toward you,

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.

2 and I implore [you], that, being present, I may not have courage, with the confidence with which I reckon to be bold against certain reckoning us as walking according to the flesh;

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.

3 for walking in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh,

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

4 for the weapons of our warfare [are] not fleshly, but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds,

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

5 bringing down reasonings, and every high thing lifted up against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of the Christ,

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

6 and being in readiness to avenge every disobedience whenever your obedience may be fulfilled.

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

7 You see the outward appearance. If anyone has trusted in himself to be Christ’s, let him reckon this again from himself, that according as he is Christ’s, so also we [are] Christ’s;

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.

8 for even if I will also boast anything more abundantly concerning our authority, that the LORD gave us for building up, and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed,

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,

9 that I may not seem as if I would terrify you through the letters,

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

10 “because the letters indeed,” says one, “[are] weighty and strong, and the bodily presence weak, and the speech despicable.”

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

11 This one—let him reckon thus: that such as we are in word, through letters, being absent, such also, being present, [we are] in deed.

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.

12 For we do not make bold to rank or to compare ourselves with certain of those commending themselves, but they, measuring themselves among themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not wise,

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.

13 and we will not boast ourselves in regard to the unmeasured things, but after the measure of the line that the God of measure appointed to us—to reach even to you;

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.

14 for we do not stretch ourselves too much, as not reaching to you, for even to you we came in the good news of the Christ,

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,

15 not boasting of the things not measured, in other men’s labors, and having hope—your faith increasing—in you to be enlarged, according to our line—into abundance,

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,

16 to proclaim good news in the [places] beyond you, not in another’s line in regard to the things made ready, to boast;

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

17 and he who is boasting—let him boast in the LORD;

But he who boasts should boast in the Lord.

18 for he who is commending himself is not approved, but he whom the LORD commends.

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