16. I repeat, no one should consider me foolish; but if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I too may boast a little.
17. What I am saying I am not saying according to the Lord but as in foolishness, in this boastful state.
18. Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.
19. For you gladly put up with fools, since you are wise yourselves.
20. For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, or devours you, or gets the better of you, or puts on airs, or slaps you in the face.
21. To my shame I say that we were too weak!But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness) I also dare.
22. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23. Are they ministers of Christ? (I am talking like an insane person.) I am still more, with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, far worse beatings, and numerous brushes with death.
24. Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one.
25. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep;
26. on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers;
27. in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure.
28. And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches.
29. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led to sin, and I am not indignant?
30. If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.