2 Corinthians 10

1Now I Paul myself entreat you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you:

1Now I, Paul, make a personal appeal to you by the gentleness and kindness of Christ—I, who am supposedly humble when I am with you in person, but bold toward you when I am far away.

2yea, I beseech you, that I may not when present show courage with the confidence wherewith I count to be bold against some, who count of us as if we walked according to the flesh.

2I beg you that when I come, I won't have to be as bold as I plan to be toward those people who think we are living by human standards.

3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh

3For although we live in the world, we do not fight our battles using human methods.

4(for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds);

4The weapons we use are not human weapons; they have God's power to tear down strongholds.

5casting 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;

5We destroy every proud obstacle and argument that keeps people from knowing God, and we capture every thought to make it obey Christ.

6and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.

6We are ready to punish every act of disobedience as soon as your own obedience is complete.

7Ye look at the things that are before your face. If any man trusteth in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ’s, so also are we.

7Look at the facts right in front of you. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should remind themselves that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.

8For though I should glory somewhat abundantly concerning our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down), I shall not be put to shame:

8I am not ashamed, even if I brag a little too much about the authority the Lord gave us—an authority meant to build you up, not to tear you down.

9that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.

9I do not want to seem like I am trying to scare you with my letters.

10For, His letters, they say, are weighty and strong; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.

10For some say, 'His letters are impressive and powerful, but in person he is weak and his speaking is worthless.'

11Let such a one reckon this, that, what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such are we also in deed when we are present.

11Those people should realize that what we say in our letters while we are away is exactly what we will do when we arrive in person.

12For we are not bold to number or compare ourselves with certain of them that commend themselves: but they themselves, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves with themselves, are without understanding.

12We wouldn't dare classify or compare ourselves with those who recommend themselves. By measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves with each other, they show how little they understand.

13But we will not glory beyond our measure, but according to the measure of the province which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even unto you.

13We will not brag about things outside our proper limits. We will only boast within the limits of the work God assigned to us, which includes our work with you.

14For we stretch not ourselves overmuch, as though we reached not unto you: for we came even as far as unto you in the gospel of Christ:

14We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had never reached you. After all, we were the first to come all the way to you with the Good News of Christ.

15not glorying beyond our measure, that is, in other men’s labors; but having hope that, as your faith groweth, we shall be magnified in you according to our province unto further abundance,

15We don't brag about work done by others outside our own area of service. Instead, we hope that as your faith grows, our work among you will also greatly expand.

16so as to preach the gospel even unto the parts beyond you, and not to glory in another’s province in regard of things ready to our hand.

16Then we can preach the Good News in the lands beyond you, rather than bragging about work already done in someone else's territory.

17But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

17But, 'If anyone wants to boast, they should boast only about what the Lord has done.'

18For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

18For it is not the person who commends himself who is approved, but the person whom the Lord commends.