16Again I say, let no one think me to be foolish. But if not, then even receive me as one who is foolish, so that I also may boast a little.17What I speak, I do not speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness in this confidence of boasting.18Since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast.19For you bear with the foolish gladly, being thoughtful yourselves.20For you bear with anyone if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes from you, if someone exalts himself, if someone strikes you in the face.21To my dishonor I speak as though we had been weak. But in whatever anyone is bold—I speak in foolishness—I also am bold.22They are Hebrews, and so am I; they are Israelites, and so am I; they are offspring of Abraham, and so am I.23They are servants of Christ. I speak as one beside himself; I am above them in labors more abundantly, in imprisonments more abundantly, in beatings without measure, in deaths often.24Five times I received from the Jews forty lashes less one.25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.26In frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, in dangers from robbers, in dangers from my own people, in dangers from Gentiles, in dangers in the city, in dangers in the wilderness, in dangers at sea, in dangers from false brothers.27In toil and hardship, often in sleeplessness, in hunger and thirst, often in fastings, in cold and nakedness.28Apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not inflamed?30If boasting is necessary, I will boast of the things of my weakness.31The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows—he who is blessed forever—that I am not lying.32In Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to arrest me.33And through a window in a basket I was let down through the wall and escaped his hands.