2 Corinthians 10

1 Moreover, I, Paul, myself, exhort you, through the meekness and considerateness of the Christ, —I who, to look upon, indeed, am lowly toward you, but, absent, am bold towards you; —

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

2 I entreat, however, that, when present, I may not be bold with the assurance wherewith I think to be daring against some who account of us as though, according to flesh, we were walking, —

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, in flesh, we walk, not, according to flesh, do we war, —

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 fleshly, but mighty, by God, unto a pulling down of strongholds, —

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

5 When we pull down, calculations, and every height that uplifteth itself against the knowledge of God, and when we bring into captivity every thought unto the obedience of the 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 when we hold ourselves, in readiness, to avenge all disobedience, as soon as your obedience shall be fulfilled!

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

7 The things that lie on the surface, ye are looking at: —if anyone hath come to trust in himself that he is, Christ’s, this, let him reckon, again, with himself—that, even as, he, is Christ’s, so, also are, we.

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 Yea, if, somewhat more abundantly, I should boast concerning our authority—which the Lord hath given for building up and not for pulling you down, I shall not be put to shame, —

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 though I would be terrifying you through means of my letters;

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

10 Because, The letters, it is true (saith one), are weighty and strong, but, the presence of the body, is weak, and, the discourse, contemptible; —

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

11 This, let such a one reckon—that, what we are, in our word, through means of letters, being absent, such, also, being present, are we, in our deed.

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 dare not class or compare ourselves with some who do, themselves, commend; but, they, among themselves, measuring, themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without discernment!

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 We, however, not as to the things without measure, will boast ourselves, but, according to the measure of the limit which God apportioned unto us, as a measure—to reach as far as even 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, not as though we were not reaching unto you, are we over-stretching ourselves, for, as far as even you, were we beforehand in the glad-message of the 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, as to the things without measure, boasting ourselves in other men’s toils, but having, hope—your faith, growing—among you, to be enlarged, according to our limit for something beyond, —

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 Unto the regions beyond you, to carry the glad-message: not, within another man’s limit, as to the things made ready, to boast ourselves.

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

17 He that boasteth, however, in the Lord, let him boast;

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

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

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