Oh, that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, and indeed bear with me.

I say again, let no one think me to be foolish. Otherwise if not, at least receive me as being foolish, that I also may boast a little.

What I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as it were, foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.

For though I might desire to boast, I will not be foolish, for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, that no one should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

I have become foolish in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.

Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and sobriety.

We are foolish because of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are distinguished, but we are dishonored.

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.

For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor in pretense of covetousness; God is witness.

But we were gentle among you, just as a nurse cherishes her own children.

For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

as you know how we exhorted, and encouraged, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,

And David said to Michal, It was before Jehovah, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of Jehovah, over Israel. Therefore I have danced before Jehovah.

And I have been even more lightly esteemed than this, and humble in my own eyes. But as for the handmaids of whom you have spoken, by them I was honored.

But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and sobriety.

For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to understand with a sound mind, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.

I now rejoice in my sufferings on your behalf, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, on behalf of His body, which is the church,

For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know of what sort we were among you for your sake.

Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.