| 1 | Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ , who in presence [am] base among you , but being absent am bold toward you : |
| 2 | But I beseech [you], that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence , wherewith I think to be bold against some , which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh . |
| 3 | For though we walk in the flesh , we do not war after the flesh : |
| 4 | (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal , but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds ;) |
| 5 | Casting down imaginations , and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God , and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ ; |
| 6 | And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience , when your obedience is fulfilled . |
| 7 | Do ye look on things after the outward appearance ? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ's , let him of himself think this again , that , as he [is] Christ's , even so [are] we Christ's . |
| 8 | For though I should boast somewhat 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 would terrify you by letters . |
| 10 | For [his] letters , say they , [are] weighty and powerful ; but [his] bodily presence [is] weak , and [his] speech contemptible . |
| 11 | Let such an one think this , that , such as we are in word by letters when we are absent , such [will we be] also in deed when we are present . |
| 12 | For we dare not make ourselves of the number , or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves : but they measuring themselves by themselves , and comparing themselves among themselves , are not wise . |
| 13 | But we will not boast of things without [our] measure , but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us , a measure to reach even unto you . |
| 14 | For we stretch not ourselves beyond [our measure], as though we reached not unto you : for we are come as far as to you also in [preaching] the gospel of Christ : |
| 15 | Not boasting of things without [our] measure , [that is], of other men's labours ; but having hope , when your faith is increased , that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly , |
| 16 | To preach the gospel in the [regions] beyond you , [and] not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand . |
| 17 | But he that glorieth , let him glory in the Lord . |
| 18 | For not he that commendeth himself is approved , but whom the Lord commendeth . |
