⁹ But ^(A)those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, ^(B)into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that ^(C)plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of ^(D)all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

¹⁸ Since ^(A)many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. ¹⁹ For you gladly bear with fools, ^(B)being wise yourselves! ²⁰ For you bear it if someone ^(C)makes slaves of you, or ^(D)devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or ^(E)strikes you in the face. ²¹ To my shame, I must say, ^(F)we were too weak for that!

But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. ²² Are they Hebrews? ^(G)So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. ²³ Are they ^(H)servants of Christ? ^(I)I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, ^(J)far more imprisonments, ^(K)with countless beatings, and ^(L)often near death. ²⁴ Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the ^(M)forty lashes less one. ²⁵ Three times I was ^(N)beaten with rods. ^(O)Once I was stoned. Three times I ^(P)was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; ²⁶ on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, ^(Q)danger from my own people, ^(R)danger from Gentiles, ^(S)danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; ^27 (T)in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, ^(U)in hunger and thirst, often without food,^[a] in cold and exposure. ²⁸ And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for ^(V)all the churches. ^29 (W)Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

^30 (X)If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ^31 (Y)The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, ^(Z)he who is blessed forever, ^(AA)knows that I am not lying.