2 Corinthians 10:9-13
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 10
9for I do not want to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters. 10For they say, 'His letters are weighty and strong, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.' 11Have such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.
12For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.
13But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the domain which God assigned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.
King James Version
Chapter 10
9That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. 10For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. 11Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.
12For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 10
9I don’t want to seem as though I am trying to terrify you with my letters. 10For it is said, "His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak and his public speaking amounts to nothing." 11Let such a person consider this: What we are in our letters, when we are absent, we will also be in our actions when we are present.
12For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.
13We, however, will not boast beyond measure but according to the measure of the area of ministry that God has assigned to us, which reaches even to you.
New Living Translation
Chapter 10
9I’m not trying to frighten you by my letters. 10For some say, 'Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!' 11Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away.English Standard Version
Chapter 10
9I do not want to appear to be frightening you with my letters. 10For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account." 11Let such a person understand that what we say by letter when absent, we do when present. 12Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.New International Version
Chapter 10
9I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. 10For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing." 11Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
12We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
13We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you.
New King James Version
Chapter 10
9lest I seem to terrify you by letters. 10“For his letters,” they say, “ are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” 11Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.
12For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
13We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you.