2nd Corinthians — 11
Shaul and the False Shaliach
1 I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me.
2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH HIMSELF. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband (Ha'Mashyach).
3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Ha'Mashyach will be corrupted, just as Chaya (Eve) was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent.
4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA Ha'Mashyach than the one we preach, or a different kind of ruach than the one you received, or a different kind of Basurah than the one you believed.
5 But I do not consider myself inferior in any way to these “super Shaliach” who teach such things.
6 I may be unskilled as a speaker, but I am not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every possible way.
7 Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching the Basurah (Good News) of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH to you without expecting anything in return?
8 I “robbed” other Qadash Assemblies by accepting their contributions so I could serve you at no cost.
9 And when I was with you and did not have enough to live on, I did not become a financial burden to anyone. For the Achks (brothers) who came from Macedonia brought me all that I needed. I have never been a burden to you, and I never will be.
10 As surely as the truth of Ha'Mashyach is in me, no one in all of Greece will ever stop me from boasting about this.
11 Why? Because I do not love you? 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH knows that I do.
12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours.
13 These people are false Shaliachs. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as Shaliachs of Ha'Mashyach.
14 But I am not surprised! Even ha'shatan disguises himself as a Malak of light.
15 So it is no wonder that the servants of ha'shatan also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.
The Many Trials of Shaul
16 Again I say, do not think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.
17 Such boasting is not from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, but I am acting like a fool.
18 And since others boast about their man's achievements, I will too.
19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!
20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.
21 I am ashamed to say that we have been too “weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about, I am talking like a fool again, I dare to boast about it too.
22 Are they Abarym (Hebrews)? So am I. Are they Yasharalym? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Ha'Mashyach? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served Ha'Mashyach far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.
24 Five different times the Yahudym leaders gave me thirty nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Yahudym, as well as from the other nations. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the Qadash Assemblies.
29 Who is weak without me feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
30 If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.
31 For 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, the ABBA of our Master 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤔𐤏_YAHUSHA, who is worthy of eternal Yadah, knows I am not lying.
32 When I was in Damascus, the governor under King Aretas kept guards at the city gates to catch me.
33 I had to be lowered in a basket through a window in the city wall to escape from him.