2 Corinthians 10

1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility 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 myself exhort you, by the meekness and lenity of Christ, who in presence am lowly among you,

2 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.

but being absent am bold towards you, yea I intreat you, that I may not be bold, when I am present, with that confidence, wherewith I think to proceed against some, who censure us as walking after the flesh.

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

For though we are in the flesh, we do not carry on our war according to the flesh:

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

(for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the demolishing of bulwarks: )

5 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 Christ;

destroying false reasonings, and every height that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and captivating every thought to the obedience of Christ.

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

And being prepared to avenge all disobedience, since your obedience is fulfilled.

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

Do ye look at things according to the outward appearance? If any one is confident in himself that he is Christ's, let him consider this again of himself, that as he is Christ's, so we also are Christ's.

8 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,

For though I should boast yet more of our authority, (which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction) I should not be ashamed:

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

that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters;

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

for his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

11 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.

But let such a one know this, that as we are in word by letters, when absent, such also shall we be in fact when present.

12 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.

For we presume not to number, or compare ourselves with some who recommend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are void of understanding.

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

But we will not glory of things beyond our bounds, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath given to us, a measure to come even unto you.

14 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 Good News of Christ,

For we do not stretch ourselves beyond measure, as though we were not commissioned to come unto you; for we have reached even to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ.

15 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,

Not boasting of things beyond our limits in other men's labors; but having hope that, when your faith is increased, we shall be abundantly enlarged by you according to our line,

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

to preach the gospel in places beyond you; and not to boast in another's province of things ready prepared for us.

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

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

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

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