(for he says, At an acceptable time I heard thee, and in a day of salvation I helped thee. Behold, now is an acceptable time. Behold, now is a day of salvation),

Therefore, Come ye out from among them, and be ye separated, says Lord, And touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you

and will be for a Father to you, and ye will be for sons and daughters to me, says Lord Almighty.

if somehow Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we (that we might not say, ye) would be embarrassed in this confidence of boast.

Because, The letters, he says, are indeed weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech is disdained.

I say again, let not any man think me to be foolish, but if otherwise--even if as foolish--accept me, so that I also may boast some a little.

I speak as from shame, that we were so weak. Yet in whatever any man may be bold in foolishness, I say I too am bold.

I have told you before, and I say in advance, as present the second time, and now absent, I write to those who have previously sinned, and to all the others, that if I come to it again, I will not spare,