2 Corinthians 10

1 I, Paul, myself appeal to you, by the humility and gentleness of Christ. I am meek when I am in your presence, but I am bold toward you when I am away.

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

2 I beg of you that, when I am present with you, I will not need to be bold with self-confidence. But I think I will need to be bold when I oppose those who assume that we are living 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 even 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 we fight with are not fleshly. Instead, they have divine power to destroy strongholds. They bring to nothing misleading arguments.

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

5 We also destroy every high thing that rises up against the knowledge of God. We take every thought captive into obedience to 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 we are getting ready to punish every act of disobedience, as soon as your obedience is complete.

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

7 Look at what is clearly in front of you. If anyone is convinced that he is Christ's, let him remind himself that just 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 For even if I boast a little too much about our authority, which the Lord gave for us to build you up and not to destroy you, I will not be ashamed.

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 I do not want it to appear that I am terrifying you by my letters.

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

10 For some people say, “His letters are serious and powerful, but physically he is weak. His words are not worth listening to.”

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

11 Let such people be aware that what we are in the words of our letters when we are absent is what we will be in our actions when we are there.

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 We do not go so far as to group ourselves or compare ourselves with those who praise themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with each other, they have no insight.

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, will not boast beyond limits. Instead, we will do so only within the limits of what God has assigned to us, limits that reach as far as 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 did not overextend ourselves when we reached you. We were the first to reach as far as you with the gospel 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 We have not boasted beyond limits about the labors of others. Instead, we expect that as your faith continues to grow, our work among you will greatly expand.

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 We hope for this, so that we may preach the gospel even in regions beyond you. We will not boast about the work being done in another's area.

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

17 “But let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

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

18 For it is not the one who recommends himself who is approved. Instead, it is the one whom the Lord recommends.

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