³ When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands^(A) and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave me the victory^(B) over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?”

³¹ I face death every day^(A)—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

²³ Are they servants of Christ?^(A) (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder,^(B) been in prison more frequently,^(C) been flogged more severely,^(D) and been exposed to death again and again.^(E)

³⁶ As it is written: