2 Corinthians 10

1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Meshikha; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you.

Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.

2 But I implore you that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence with which I intend on showing against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh.

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh;

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh;

4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty in God for the tearing down of strongholds,

for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds,

5 throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Meshikha;

throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.

and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is made full.

7 Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Meshikha's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Meshikha's, so also we are Meshikha's.

Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, so we also are Christ’s.

8 For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,

For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed,

9 that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters.

10 For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised."

For, “His letters”, they say, “are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised.”

11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

13 But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.

But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you.

14 For we do not stretch ourselves too much, as though we did not reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Meshikha,

For we do not stretch ourselves too much, as though we did not reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ,

15 not boasting excessively in the work done by others, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,

not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence,

16 so as to preach the Good News even to the regions beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

so as to preach the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done.

17 But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."

But “he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.”

18 For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

For it is not he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.