1 Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. 2 Yes, I beg you that I may not, when present, show courage with the confidence with which I intend to be bold against some, who consider us to be walking according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we don’t wage war according to the flesh; 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the throwing down of strongholds, 5 throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience when your obedience is made full.

7 Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that even as he is Christ’s, so we also are Christ’s. 8 For even if I boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for casting you down, I will not be ashamed, 9 that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters. 10 For, "His letters", they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised." 11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

12 For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding. 13 But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which God appointed to us, which reach even to you. 14 For we don’t stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn’t reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Good News of Christ, 15 not boasting beyond proper limits in other men’s labors, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence, 16 so as to preach the Good News even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done. 17 But "he who boasts, let him boast in the Lord." 18 For it isn’t he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.

1 我保罗与你们见面的时候是谦卑的， 不在你们那里的时候， 却是放胆的。现在我亲自以基督的谦逊温柔劝你们，

2 求你们使我在你们那里的时候， 不要满有自信地放胆对你们， 我认为要以这样的自信， 勇敢地对付那些以为我们是照着世俗的标准（"世俗的标准"原文作"肉体"）行事的人。

3 我们虽然在世上行事， 却不是按照世俗的方式作战，

4 因为我们作战所用的兵器， 不是属于这世界的， 而是在 神面前有能力的， 可以攻陷坚固的堡垒，

5 攻破诡辩， 和做来阻挡人认识 神的一切高墙， 并且把一切心意夺回来， 顺服基督。

6 我们已经准备好了， 等你们完全顺服的时候， 就惩罚所有不顺从的人。

7 你们看事情， 只看表面。如果有人自信是属于基督的， 他就应该再想一想： 他是属于基督的， 同样， 我们也是属于基督的。

8 主把权柄赐给我们， 是为了要造就你们， 不是要破坏你们， 就算我为这权柄夸口过分了一点， 也不会觉得惭愧。

9 不要以为我写信是用来吓你们。

10 因为有人说： "他的信又严厉又强硬， 他本人却气貌不扬， 言语粗俗。"

11 说这话的人要想一想， 我们不在你们那里的时候， 信上怎样写， 我们来到的时候也会怎样作。

12 我们不敢和那些自我推荐的人相提并论； 他们拿自己来量自己， 拿自己来比自己， 实在不大聪明。

13 我们所夸的， 并没有越过范围， 而是在 神量给我们的界限之内； 这界限一直延伸到你们那里。

14 如果我们没有到过你们那里， 现在就自夸得过分了； 但事实上， 我们早就把基督的福音传到你们那里了。

15 我们并没有越过范围， 拿别人的劳苦来夸口。我们盼望随着你们信心的增长， 我们的界限就因你们而大大扩展，

16 使我们可以把福音传到你们以外的地方。别人在他的界限以内所完成的工作， 我们不会拿来夸口的。

17 夸口的应当靠着主夸口，

18 因为蒙悦纳的， 不是自我推荐的人， 而是主所推荐的人。