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1. I wish you would be patient with me even when I am a little foolish. But you are already patient with me.
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1. Would to God G3785 ye could bear with G430 me G3450 a little G3397 in my folly G877 : and G235 indeed G2532 bear with G430 me G3450 .
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2. I am jealous for you with a jealousy that comes from God. I promised to give you to Christ. He must be your only husband. I want to give you to Christ to be his pure bride.
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2. For G1063 I am jealous G2206 over you G5209 with godly G2316 jealousy G2205 : for G1063 I have espoused G718 you G5209 to one G1520 husband G435 , that I may present G3936 you as a chaste G53 virgin G3933 to Christ G5547 .
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3. But I am afraid that your minds will be led away from your true and pure following of Christ. This could happen just as Eve was tricked by that snake with his clever lies.
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3. But G1161 I fear G5399 , lest by any means G3381 , as G5613 the G3588 serpent G3789 beguiled G1818 Eve G2096 through G1722 his G848 subtlety G3834 , so G3779 your G5216 minds G3540 should be corrupted G5351 from G575 the G3588 simplicity G572 that G3588 is in G1519 Christ G5547 .
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4. You seem to be quite patient with anyone who comes to you and tells you about a Jesus that is different from the Jesus we told you about. You seem very willing to accept a spirit or a message that is different from the Spirit and message that you received from us.
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4. For G1063 if G1487 he that cometh G2064 preacheth G2784 another G243 Jesus G2424 , whom G3739 we have not G3756 preached G2784 , or G2228 if ye receive G2983 another G2087 spirit G4151 , which G3739 ye have not G3756 received G2983 , or G2228 another G2087 gospel G2098 , which G3739 ye have not G3756 accepted G1209 , ye might well G2573 bear with G430 him.
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5. I don't think that those "super apostles " are any better than I am.
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5. For G1063 I suppose G3049 I was not a whit behind G5302 G3367 the G3588 very chiefest G5228 G3029 apostles G652 .
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6. It is true that I am not a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have shown this to you clearly in every way.
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6. But G1161 though G1487 G2532 I be rude G2399 in speech G3056 , yet G235 not G3756 in knowledge G1108 ; but G235 we have been throughly G1722 G3956 made manifest G5319 among G1519 you G5209 in G1722 all things G3956 .
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7. I did the work of telling God's Good News to you without pay. I humbled myself to make you important. Do you think that was wrong?
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7. G2228 Have I committed G4160 an offense G266 in abasing G5013 myself G1683 that G2443 ye G5210 might be exalted G5312 , because G3754 I have preached G2097 to you G5213 the G3588 gospel G2098 of God G2316 freely G1432 ?
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8. I accepted pay from other churches. I took their money so that I could serve you.
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8. I robbed G4813 other G243 churches G1577 , taking G2983 wages G3800 of them, to G4314 do you G5216 service G1248 .
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9. If I needed something when I was with you, I did not trouble any of you. The brothers who came from Macedonia gave me all that I needed. I did not allow myself to be a burden to you in any way. And I will never be a burden to you.
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9. And G2532 when I was present G3918 with G4314 you G5209 , and G2532 wanted G5302 , I G3756 was chargable G2655 to no man G3762 : for G1063 that which was lacking G5303 to me G3450 the G3588 brethren G80 which came G2064 from G575 Macedonia G3109 supplied G4322 : and G2532 in G1722 all G3956 things I have kept G5083 myself G1683 from being burdensome G4 unto you G5213 , and G2532 so will I keep G5083 myself.
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10. No one in Achaia will stop me from boasting about that. I say this with the truth of Christ in me.
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10. As the truth G225 of Christ G5547 is G2076 in G1722 me G1698 , no man G3754 G3756 shall stop G4972 G1519 me G1691 of this G3778 boasting G2746 in G1722 the G3588 regions G2824 of Achaia G882 .
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11. And why do I not burden you? Do you think it is because I don't love you? God knows that I love you.
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11. Wherefore G1302 ? because G3754 I love G25 you G5209 not G3756 ? God G2316 knoweth G1492 .
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12. And I will continue doing what I am doing now, because I want to stop those people from having a reason to boast. They would like to say that the work they boast about is the same as ours.
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12. But G1161 what G3739 I do G4160 , that I G2532 will do G4160 , that G2443 I may cut off G1581 occasion G874 from them which desire G2309 occasion G874 ; that G2443 wherein G1722 G3739 they glory G2744 , they may be found G2147 even G2532 as G2531 we G2249 .
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13. They are false apostles, lying workers. They only pretend to be apostles of Christ.
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13. For G1063 such G5108 are false apostles G5570 , deceitful G1386 workers G2040 , transforming themselves G3345 into G1519 the apostles G652 of Christ G5547 .
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14. That does not surprise us, because even Satan changes himself to look like an angel of light.
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14. And G2532 no G3756 marvel G2298 ; for G1063 Satan G4567 himself G846 is transformed G3345 into G1519 an angel G32 of light G5457 .
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15. So it does not surprise us if Satan's servants make themselves look like servants who work for what is right. But in the end those people will get the punishment they deserve.
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15. Therefore G3767 it is no G3756 great thing G3173 if G1499 his G846 ministers G1249 also be transformed G3345 as G5613 the ministers G1249 of righteousness G1343 ; whose G3739 end G5056 shall be G2071 according G2596 to their G846 works G2041 .
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16. I tell you again: No one should think that I am a fool. But if you think I am a fool, then accept me as you would accept a fool. Then I can boast a little too.
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16. I say G3004 again G3825 , Let no G3361 man G5100 think G1380 me G3165 a G1511 fool G878 ; if otherwise G1490 G1490 , yet G2579 as G5613 a fool G878 receive G1209 me G3165 , that G2443 I G2504 may boast G2744 myself a little G3397 G5100 .
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17. But I am not talking like the Lord would talk. I am boasting like a fool.
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17. That G3739 which I speak G2980 , I speak G2980 it not G3756 after G2596 the Lord G2962 , but G235 as it were G5613 foolishly G1722 G877 , in G1722 this G5026 confidence G5287 of boasting G2746 .
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18. Others are boasting about their lives in the world. So I will boast too.
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18. Seeing that G1893 many G4183 glory G2744 after G2596 the G3588 flesh G4561 , I will glory also G2504 G2744 .
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19. You are wise, so you will gladly be patient with fools!
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19. For G1063 ye suffer G430 fools G878 gladly G2234 , seeing ye yourselves are G5607 wise G5429 .
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20. I say this because you are even patient with someone who forces you to do things and uses you. You are patient with those who trick you, or think they are better than you, or hit you in the face!
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20. For G1063 ye suffer G430 , if a man G1536 bring you into bondage G2615 G5209 , if a man G1536 devour G2719 you, if a man G1536 take G2983 of you, if a man G1536 exalt himself G1869 , if a man G1536 smite G1194 you G5209 on G1519 the face G4383 .
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21. I am ashamed to say it, but we were too "weak" to do such things to you. But if anyone dares to boast, I will too. (I am talking like a fool.)
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21. I speak G3004 as concerning G2596 reproach G819 , as G5613 though G3754 we G2249 had been weak G770 . Howbeit G1161 whereinsoever G1722 G3739 G302 any G5100 is bold, I G5111 ( speak G3004 foolishly G1722 G877 ,) I am bold also G2504 G5111 .
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22. Are those people Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they from Abraham's family? So am I.
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22. Are G1526 they Hebrews G1445 ? so am I G2504 . Are G1526 they Israelites G2475 ? so am I G2504 . Are G1526 they the seed G4690 of Abraham G11 ? so am I G2504 .
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23. Are they serving Christ? I am serving him more. (I am crazy to talk like this.) I have worked much harder than they have. I have been in prison more often. I have been hurt more in beatings. I have been near death many times.
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23. Are G1526 they ministers G1249 of Christ? I G5547 ( speak G2980 as a fool G3912 ) I G1473 am more G5228 ; in G1722 labors G2873 more abundant G4056 , in G1722 stripes G4127 above measure G5234 , in G1722 prisons G5438 more frequent G4056 , in G1722 deaths G2288 oft G4178 .
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24. Five times the Jews have given me their punishment of 39 lashes with a whip.
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24. Of G5259 the Jews G2453 five times G3999 received G2983 I forty G5062 stripes save G3844 one G3391 .
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25. Three different times I was beaten with rods. One time I was almost killed with rocks. 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.
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25. Thrice G5151 was I beaten with rods G4463 , once G530 was I stoned G3034 , thrice G5151 I suffered shipwreck G3489 , a night and a day G3574 I have been G4160 in G1722 the G3588 deep G1037 ;
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26. In my constant traveling I have been in danger from rivers, from thieves, from my own people, and from people 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 from people who pretend to be believers but are not.
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26. In journeyings G3597 often G4178 , in perils G2794 of waters G4215 , in perils G2794 of robbers G3027 , in perils G2794 by G1537 mine own countrymen G1085 , in perils G2794 by G1537 the heathen G1484 , in perils G2794 in G1722 the city G4172 , in perils G2794 in G1722 the wilderness G2047 , in perils G2794 in G1722 the sea G2281 , in perils G2794 among G1722 false brethren G5569 ;
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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.
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27. In G1722 weariness G2873 and G2532 painfulness G3449 , in G1722 watchings G70 often G4178 , in G1722 hunger G3042 and G2532 thirst G1372 , in G1722 fastings G3521 often G4178 , in G1722 cold G5592 and G2532 nakedness G1132 .
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28. And there are many other problems. One of these is the care I have for all the churches. I worry about them every day.
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28. Beside G5565 those things that are without G3924 , that which cometh upon G1999 me G3450 daily G2596 G2250 , the G3588 care G3308 of all G3956 the G3588 churches G1577 .
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29. I feel weak every time another person is weak. I feel upset inside myself every time another person is led into sin.
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29. Who G5101 is weak G770 , and G2532 I am not weak G770 G3756 ? who G5101 is offended G4624 , and G2532 I G1473 burn G4448 not G3756 ?
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30. If I must boast, I will boast about the things that show I am weak.
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30. If G1487 I must needs G1163 glory G2744 , I will glory G2744 of the things G3588 which concern mine G3450 infirmities G769 .
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31. God knows that I am not lying. He is the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, and he is to be praised forever.
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31. The G3588 God G2316 and G2532 Father G3962 of our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 , which is G5607 blessed G2128 forevermore G1519 G165 , knoweth G1492 that G3754 I lie G5574 not G3756 .
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32. When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas wanted to arrest me, so he put guards around the city.
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32. In G1722 Damascus G1154 the G3588 governor G1481 under Aretas G702 the G3588 king G935 kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison G5432 G3588 G4172 G1153 , desirous G2309 to apprehend G4084 me G3165 :
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33. But some friends put me in a basket. Then they put the basket through a hole in the wall and lowered me down. So I escaped from the governor.
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33. And G2532 through G1223 a window G2376 in G1722 a basket G4553 was I let down G5465 by G1223 the G3588 wall G5038 , and G2532 escaped G1628 his G846 hands G5495 .
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