2 Corinthians 11:11-33
11 Why? aBecause I do not love you? bGod knows I do!
12 But what I am doing I will continue to do, aso that I may cut off opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be found just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. 13 For such men are afalse apostles, bdeceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even aSatan disguises himself as an bangel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness, awhose end will be according to their deeds.
16 aAgain I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, so that I also may boast a little. 17 What I am saying, I am not saying aaccording to the Lord, but as bin foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. 18 Since amany boast baccording to the flesh, I will boast also. 19 For you, abeing so wise, are bearing the foolish gladly. 20 For you bear it if anyone aenslaves you, anyone bdevours you, anyone ctakes advantage of you, anyone dexalts himself, anyone ehits you in the face. 21 To my ashame I must say that we have been bweak by comparison.
But in whatever respect anyone else cis daring—I dspeak in foolishness—I am just as daring myself. 22 Are they aHebrews? bSo am I. Are they cIsraelites? cSo am I. Are they Abraham’s dseed? eSo am I. 23 Are they aministers of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in bfar more labors, in cfar more imprisonments, in dbeatings without number, in frequent edanger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews aforty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was abeaten with rods, once I was bstoned, three times I was shipwrecked—a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my acountrymen, dangers from the bGentiles, dangers in the ccity, dangers in the desolate places, dangers on the sea, dangers among dfalse brothers. 27 I have been in alabor and hardship, in many sleepless nights, in bstarvation and thirst, often chungry, in cold and dwithout enough clothing. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for aall the churches. 29 Who is aweak without my being weak? Who is made to stumble without my burning concern?
30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my aweakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, aHe who is blessed forever, bknows that I am not lying. 32 In aDamascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was bguarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, 33 and I was let down in a basket athrough a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.
1 Corinthians 4:10-13
10 We are afools for the sake of Christ, but byou are prudent in Christ! cWe are weak, but you are strong! You are glorious, but we are without honor! 11 To this present hour we ahunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and roughly treated, and homeless; 12 and we labor, aworking with our own hands; when we are breviled, we bless; when we are cpersecuted, we endure; 13 when we are slandered, we try to plead; we have abecome as the scum of the world, the grime of all things, even until now.
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