21 I say this to our shame: We have been too weak for that!

But in whatever anyone dares to boast—I am talking foolishly—I also dare: 22 Are they Hebrews?(A) So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham?(B) So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I’m talking like a madman—I’m a better one: with far more labors, many more imprisonments, far worse beatings, many times near death.

24 Five times I received the forty lashes minus one from the Jews.(C) 25 Three times I was beaten with rods.(D) Once I received a stoning.(E) Three times I was shipwrecked.(F) I have spent a night and a day in the open sea. 26 On frequent journeys, I faced dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers,(G) dangers from my own people,(H) dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, and dangers among false brothers; 27 toil and hardship, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, cold, and without clothing.(I) 28 Not to mention[a] other things, there is the daily pressure on me: my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble,(J) and I do not burn with indignation?

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Footnotes

  1. 11:28 Lit Apart from

21 To my (A)shame I must say that we have been (B)weak by comparison.

But in whatever respect anyone else (C)is bold—I am (D)speaking in foolishness—I too am bold. 22 Are they (E)Hebrews? (F)So am I. Are they (G)Israelites? (H)So am I. Are they [a](I)descendants of Abraham? (J)So am I. 23 Are they (K)servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if insane—I more so; in (L)far more labors, in (M)far more imprisonments, [b](N)beaten times without number, often in danger of (O)death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews (P)thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was (Q)beaten with rods, once I was (R)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 (S)countrymen, dangers from the (T)Gentiles, dangers in the (U)city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among (V)false brothers; 27 I have been in (W)labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in (X)hunger and thirst, often (Y)without food, in cold and [c](Z)exposure. 28 Apart from such [d]external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for (AA)all the churches. 29 Who is (AB)weak without my being weak? Who is [e]led into sin [f]without my intense concern?

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 11:22 Lit seed
  2. 2 Corinthians 11:23 Lit exceedingly in blows
  3. 2 Corinthians 11:27 Lit nakedness; i.e., lack of clothing
  4. 2 Corinthians 11:28 Or the things unmentioned
  5. 2 Corinthians 11:29 Lit made to stumble
  6. 2 Corinthians 11:29 Lit and I do not burn

21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak(A) for that!

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about.(B) 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I.(C) Are they Israelites? So am I.(D) Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.(E) 23 Are they servants of Christ?(F) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,(G) been in prison more frequently,(H) been flogged more severely,(I) and been exposed to death again and again.(J) 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes(K) minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods,(L) once I was pelted with stones,(M) three times I was shipwrecked,(N) I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews,(O) in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city,(P) in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.(Q) 27 I have labored and toiled(R) and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;(S) I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.(T) 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?(U) Who is led into sin,(V) and I do not inwardly burn?

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