For we wish you not to be ignorant, brothers, of our affliction which befell us in Asia, that we were exceedingly oppressed beyond our power, so that we despaired even of life;

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us,

We are embassadors therefore for Christ, as though God besought you by us; we pray you, for Christ, be reconciled to God.

in the word of truth, in the power of God; with the arms of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

as grieving but always rejoicing, as poor but making many rich, as having nothing and possessing all things.

for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he became poor, though rich, that you by his poverty might be rich.

as it is written, He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness continues forever.

I wish you would bear a little with my folly; and indeed do bear with me.

For if he that comes preaches another Jesus whom we did not preach, or you receive another spirit which you did not receive, or another gospel which you did not receive, you might well bear it;

Again, I say let no one think me to be foolish; but if otherwise, even as a foolish man bear with me that I may boast a little.

And he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you; for power is perfected in weakness.

Most gladly, therefore, will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Wherefore I am well pleased with infirmities, with injuries, with necessities, with persecutions, with distresses for Christ; for when I am weak, then am I strong.

for though he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of God; and we also are weak in him, but live with him by the power of God in you.

For this reason, being absent, I write these things, that I may not use sharpness when present, with the power which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for pulling down.