2 Corinthians 10

Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of al-Masih; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am of good courage toward you. ²Yes, 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. ³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh; ⁴for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before Allah to the throwing down of strongholds, ⁵throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of Allah, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of al-Masih; ⁶and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full. ⁷Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is al-Masih's, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is al-Masih's, so also we are al-Masih's. ⁸For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed, ⁹that I may not seem as if I desire to terrify you by my letters. ¹⁰For, "His letters," they say, "are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is despised." ¹¹Let 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. ¹²For 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. ¹³But we will not boast beyond proper limits, but within the boundaries with which Allah appointed to us, which reach even to you. ¹⁴For we do not stretch ourselves too much, as though we didn't reach to you. For we came even as far as to you with the Injil of al-Masih, ¹⁵not boasting beyond proper limits in other men's labours, but having hope that as your faith grows, we will be abundantly enlarged by you in our sphere of influence, ¹⁶so as to preach the Injil even to the parts beyond you, not to boast in what someone else has already done. ¹⁷But "let him who boasts, boast in the Lord."[1] ¹⁸For it isn't he who commends himself who is approved, but whom the Lord commends.