1 Now I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and fairness of Christ; who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.2 But I beseech you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I figure on being bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh.3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God for pulling down strongholds,5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity unto the obedience of Christ,6 and being ready to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.7 Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ’s, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ’s, even so we are Christ’s.8 For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed;9 so that I may not seem to frighten you by letters.10 For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word through letters when we are absent, such we are also in deed when we are present.12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.13 We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God distributed to us; a measure which reaches even unto you.14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though not extending to you), for we also came as far as to you with the gospel of Christ;15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is growing, according to our rule, being greatly enlarged to overflowing,16 in order to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another’s measure of accomplishment.17 But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.18 For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

1 And Y my silf Poul biseche you, bi the myldenesse and softnesse of Crist, which in the face am meke among you, and Y absent triste in you.2 For Y preie you, that lest Y present be not bold bi the trist, in which Y am gessid to be bold in to summe, that demen vs, as if we wandren aftir the fleisch.3 For we walkynge in fleisch, fiyten not aftir the fleisch.4 For the armuris of oure knyythod ben not fleischli, but myyti bi God to the distruccioun of strengthis. And we distrien counsels,5 and alle hiynesse that hiyeth it silf ayens the science of God, and dryuen `in to caitifte al vndirstonding in to the seruyce of Crist.6 And we han redi to venge al vnobedience, whanne youre obedience schal be fillid.7 Se ye the thingis that ben after the face. If ony man trustith to him silf, that he is of Crist, thenke he this thing eft anentis hym silf,8 for as he is Cristis, so also we. For if Y schal glorie ony thing more of oure power, which the Lord yaf to vs in to edifiyng, and not in to youre distruccioun, Y schal not be schamed.9 But that Y be not gessid as to fere you bi epistlis,10 for thei seien, That epistlis ben greuouse and stronge, but the presence of the bodi is feble, and the word worthi to be dispisid.11 He that is suche oon, thenke this, for suche as we absent ben in word bi pistlis, suche we ben present in dede.12 For we doren not putte vs among, or comparisoune vs to summen, that comenden hem silf; but we mesuren vs in vs silf, and comparisounen vs silf to vs.13 For we schulen not haue glorie ouer mesure, but bi the mesure of the reule which God mesuride to vs, the mesure that stretchith to you.14 For we ouerstretchen not forth vs, as not stretchinge to you. For to you we camen in the gospel of Crist,15 not gloriynge ouer mesure in othere mennus trauelis. For we `han hope of youre feith that wexith in you to be magnefied bi oure reule in abundaunce,16 also to preche in to tho thingis that ben biyendis you, not to haue glorie in othere mennus reule, in these thingis that ben maad redi.17 He that glorieth, haue glorie in the Lord.18 For not he that comendith hym silf is preuyd, but whom God comendith.