2 Corinthians 11:12-33

New American Standard Bible

¹² But what I am doing I will also continue to do, ^(A)so that I may eliminate the opportunity from those who want an opportunity to be ^[a]regarded just as we are in the matter about which they are boasting. ¹³ For such men are ^(B)false apostles, ^(C)deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ No wonder, for even ^(D)Satan disguises himself as an ^(E)angel of light. ¹⁵ Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, ^(F)whose end will be according to their deeds.

^16 (G)Again 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 ^[b](H)as the Lord would, but as ^(I)in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting. ¹⁸ Since ^(J)many boast ^(K)according to the flesh, I will boast also. ¹⁹ For you, ^(L)being so wise, tolerate the foolish gladly. ²⁰ For you tolerate it if anyone ^(M)enslaves you, if anyone ^(N)devours you, if anyone ^(O)takes advantage of you, if anyone ^(P)exalts himself, if anyone ^(Q)hits you in the face. ²¹ To my ^(R)shame I must say that we have been ^(S)weak by comparison.

But in whatever respect anyone else ^(T)is bold—I am ^(U)speaking in foolishness—I too am bold. ²² Are they ^(V)Hebrews? ^(W)So am I. Are they ^(X)Israelites? ^(Y)So am I. Are they ^[c](Z)descendants of Abraham? ^(AA)So am I. ²³ Are they ^(AB)servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in ^(AC)far more labors, in ^(AD)far more imprisonments, ^[d](AE)beaten times without number, often in danger of ^(AF)death. ²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews ^(AG)thirty-nine lashes. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(AH)beaten with rods, once I was ^(AI)stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea. ²⁶ I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my ^(AJ)countrymen, dangers from the ^(AK)Gentiles, dangers in the ^(AL)city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among ^(AM)false brothers; ²⁷ I have been in ^(AN)labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in ^(AO)hunger and thirst, often ^(AP)without food, in cold and ^[e](AQ)exposure. ²⁸ Apart from such ^[f]external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for ^(AR)all the churches. ²⁹ Who is ^(AS)weak without my being weak? Who is ^[g]led into sin ^[h]without my intense concern?

³⁰ If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my ^(AT)weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, ^(AU)He who is blessed forever, ^(AV)knows that I am not lying. ³² In ^(AW)Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was ^(AX)guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, ³³ and I was let down in a basket ^(AY)through a window ^[i]in the wall, and so escaped his hands.