23. Are they serving Christ? I am serving him more. (I am crazy to talk like this.) I have worked much harder than they. I have been in prison more often. I have been hurt more in beatings. I have been near death many times.
24. Five times the Jews have given me their punishment of 39 lashes with a whip.
25. Three different times I was beaten with rods. One time they tried to kill me with stones. Three times I was in ships that were wrecked, and one of those times I spent the night and the next day in the sea.
26. I have gone on many travels. And I have been in danger from rivers, from thieves, from my own people, the Jews, and from those who are not Jews. I have been in danger in cities, in places where no one lives, and on the sea. And I have been in danger with false brothers.
27. I have done hard and tiring work, and many times I did not sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. Many times I have been without food. I have been cold and without clothes.
28. Besides all this, there is on me every day the load of my concern for all the churches.
29. I feel weak every time someone is weak. I feel upset every time someone is led into sin.
30. If I must brag, I will brag about the things that show I am weak.