1 But I myself, Paul, entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of the Christ, who, as to appearance, when present am mean among you, but absent am bold towards you; 2 but I beseech that present I may not be bold with the confidence with which I think to be daring towards some who think of us as walking according to flesh. 3 For walking in flesh, we do not war according to flesh. 4 For the arms of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful according to God to the overthrow of strongholds; 5 overthrowing reasonings and every high thing that lifts itself up against the knowledge of God, and leading captive every thought into the obedience of the Christ; 6 and having in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience shall have been fulfilled.

7 Do ye look at what concerns appearance? If any one has confidence in himself that he is of Christ, let him think this again in himself, that even as he is of Christ, so also are we. 8 For and if I should boast even somewhat more abundantly of our authority, which the Lord has given to us for building up and not for your overthrowing, I shall not be put to shame; 9 that I may not seem as if I was frightening you by letters: 10 because his letters, he says, are weighty and strong, but his presence in the body weak, and his speech naught. 11 Let such a one think this, that such as we are in word by letters when absent, such also present in deed.

12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves; but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are not intelligent. 13 Now we will not boast out of measure, but according to the measure of the rule which the God of measure has apportioned to us, to reach to you also. 14 For we do not, as not reaching to you, overstretch ourselves, (for we have come to you also in the glad tidings of the Christ;) 15 not boasting out of measure in other people’s labours, but having hope, your faith increasing, to be enlarged amongst you, according to our rule, yet more abundantly 16 to announce the glad tidings to that which is beyond you, not to be boasting in another’s rule of things made ready to hand. 17 But he that boasts, let him boast in the Lord. 18 For not he that commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

1 Mina, Paulus, pöördun teie poole Kristuse alandlikkuses ja leebuses; mina, kes ma olevat tasane teiega koos olles, kuid julge olles eemal. 2 Ma anun, et mul teie juurde tulles ei oleks tarvis olla sama julge kui mõne inimesega, kes arvab meid elavat selle maailma nõudmiste järgi. 3 Sest kuigi me elame maailmas, ei sõdi me nagu maailm. 4 Meie võitluse relvad ei ole lihalikud, vaid neis on jumalik vägi purustada kindlusi. 5 Me hävitame iga mõttekäigu, mis tõstab end Jumala tundmise vastu, ja me vangistame iga mõtte selleks, et teha see kuulekaks Kristusele. 6 Ja oleme valmis karistama iga sõnakuulmatust, niipea kui teie kuulekus on saanud täielikuks.

7 Vaadake tõele näkku! Kes on veendunud, et ta kuulub Kristusele, siis pidagu meeles, et sama palju kui tema kuulub Kristusele, kuulume ka meie. 8 Sest kui ma ka kiitleksin ülemäära sellest meelevallast, mille Issand on andnud teie ülesehitamiseks ja mitte mahalõhkumiseks, siis ma ei jääks häbisse. 9 Ometi ei taha ma jätta muljet, nagu püüaksin teid oma kirjadega hirmutada. 10 Sest nad ju räägivad: „Tema kirjad on küll karmid ja vägevad, aga ise kohale tulles on ta nõrk ja tema kõned on kehvad!" 11 Sellised inimesed mõistku, et me oleme teie juures olles samasugused kui eemal oma kirjade sõnades.

12 Me ei söanda küll võistelda ega isegi võrrelda end mõnedega, kes iseennast soovitavad. Nad ei mõista, et mõõdavad ja võrdlevad ennast iseendaga! 13 Ent meie ei kiitle mõõdutundeta, vaid vastavalt sellele mõõdule, mille Jumal on meile määranud ja mis ulatub isegi teieni. 14 Sest me ei rõhuta ülemäära oma volitusi nagu siis, kui me poleks teieni jõudnudki. Me oleme teieni jõudnud Kristuse evangeeliumi kuulutades. 15 Samuti ei kiitle me ülemäära teiste töövaevaga. Ent me loodame, et kui teie usk kasvab, laieneb meie tegevuspiirkond teie seas suuresti. 16 Siis saame kuulutada evangeeliumi teist kaugematele aladele, kiitlemata teiste territooriumil juba tehtud tööst. 17 Aga kes kiitleb, see kiidelgu Issandast! 18 Sest kõlblik ei ole see, kes ennast ise soovitab, vaid see, keda soovitab Issand.