We are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the Israelites could not stare at the end of what was fading away,

but their minds were closed. For to this day, at the reading of the old covenant, the same veil remains; it is not lifted, because it is set aside only in Christ.

Even to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts,

but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.

I repeat: No one should consider me a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so I too may boast a little.

For if I want to boast, I will not be a fool, because I will be telling the truth. But I will spare you, so that no one can credit me with something beyond what he sees in me or hears from me,

I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.

Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to fail.