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

But in whatever respect anyone else (C)is daring—I (D)speak in foolishness—I am just as daring myself. 22 Are they (E)Hebrews? (F)So am I. Are they (G)Israelites? (H)So am I. Are they Abraham’s (I)seed? (J)So am I. 23 Are they (K)ministers of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in [a](L)far more labors, in [b](M)far more imprisonments, in (N)beatings without number, in frequent (O)danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews (P)forty lashes less one. 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 in the deep. 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 desolate places, dangers on the sea, dangers among (V)false brothers. 27 I have been in (W)labor and hardship, in many sleepless nights, in (X)starvation and thirst, often (Y)hungry, in cold and [c](Z)without enough clothing. 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 made to stumble [e]without my burning concern?

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 11:23 Lit more abundant
  2. 2 Corinthians 11:23 Lit more abundant
  3. 2 Corinthians 11:27 Lit nakedness
  4. 2 Corinthians 11:28 Or the things unmentioned
  5. 2 Corinthians 11:29 Lit and I do not burn

21 I’m ashamed to say that we have been weak in comparison! But in whatever they challenge me, I challenge them (I’m speaking foolishly).

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? I’m speaking like a crazy person. What I’ve done goes well beyond what they’ve done. I’ve worked much harder. I’ve been imprisoned much more often. I’ve been beaten more times than I can count. I’ve faced death many times. 24 I received the “forty lashes minus one” from the Jews five times. 25 I was beaten with rods three times. I was stoned once. I was shipwrecked three times. I spent a day and a night on the open sea. 26 I’ve been on many journeys. I faced dangers from rivers, robbers, my people, and Gentiles. I faced dangers in the city, in the desert, on the sea, and from false brothers and sisters. 27 I faced these dangers with hard work and heavy labor, many sleepless nights, hunger and thirst, often without food, and in the cold without enough clothes.

28 Besides all the other things I could mention, there’s my daily stress because I’m concerned about all the churches. 29 Who is weak without me being weak? Who is led astray without me being furious about it?

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