Paul Defends His Work for Christ
1 Do you think I am a coward when I am with you and brave when I am far away? Well, I ask you to listen, because Christ himself was humble and gentle. 2 Some people have said we act like the people of this world. So when I arrive, I expect I will have to be firm and forceful in what I say to them. Please don't make me treat you that way. 3 We live in this world, but we don't act like its people 4 or fight our battles with the weapons of this world. Instead, we use God's power that can destroy fortresses. We destroy arguments 5 and every bit of pride that keeps anyone from knowing God. We capture people's thoughts and make them obey Christ. 6 And when you completely obey him, we will punish anyone who refuses to obey.
7 You judge by appearances. If any of you think you are the only ones who belong to Christ, then think again. We belong to Christ as much as you do. 8 Maybe I brag a little too much about the authority that the Lord gave me to help you and not to hurt you. Yet I am not embarrassed to brag. 9 And I am not trying to scare you with my letters. 10 Some of you are saying, “Paul's letters are harsh and powerful. But in person, he is a weakling and has nothing worth saying.” 11 Those people had better understand that when I am with you, I will do exactly what I say in my letters.
12 We won't dare compare ourselves with those who think so much of themselves. But they are foolish to compare themselves with themselves. 13 We won't brag about something we don't have a right to brag about. We will only brag about the work God has sent us to do, and you are part of that work. 14 We are not bragging more than we should. After all, we did bring the message about Christ to you.
15 We don't brag about what others have done, as if we had done those things ourselves. But I hope as you become stronger in your faith, we will be able to reach many more of the people around you. That has always been our goal. 16 Then we will be able to preach the good news in other lands where we cannot take credit for work someone else has already done. 17 The Scriptures say, “If you want to brag, then brag about the Lord.” 18 You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval.
Paulo ka Losi Ndaro Gagana Lazo'ba Ronye
1 Ma, Paulo, ma driayo ämiri, ma se ata tana be ekye, ma'dote tokyeako ago ŋgo'bo tuse mabe orivoya ami yibe si, oko tadrioleako ami yibe tuse mabe orivoya lozo si owo. Tokyeako ndi takado Kristo robe si molo'baru ämiri 2 ko ma gbirine gbiri a'done siomba be ondro mikyite owo; tana endaro mäni ndi a'done siomba be ànya se kayibe ata ekye mà taoye tavousu 'bädri rosi ri. 3 Ndi orivoya endaro mà ori 'bädri ya, oko màye kyila kote oso tavousu 'bädri ro ronye. 4 Lakaza kyila ro se màbe kyila oye sina kyila amaro ya, ko orivoya lakaza kyila oye ro 'bädri ro oko lakaza mbaraekye Lu ro kyila oyero se mà kyila oye sina vose mbaraekye pereza. Mà kalawasa kowero pere, 5 mèpere kaladiṛi ndi ŋgacini se driuŋgyi be te vuru se eŋgate tauni Lu ro lomvo, ago mä̀ru tavousu cini te kamba'bai ro ago ma'bate Kristo orone. 6 Ago ondro ka'do nyàka'da taoro amiro te endaro oko, mà'dona 'da nja taoye se aza taoroako si ezane.
7 Nyà ugu a'do tesisi ŋgai ro ondrena ayani. Inye'do 'diaza gibe iga se ka tausu ekye nda orivoya Kristo roya? Mì'ba nda kusu ta to'di andivo ndaro ta, tana ama cini orivoya Kristo ro kpa oso nda be Kristo ro ronye. 8 Drî maro pi ko 'de, ondro aba ka'do mäŋgyidri ca ta drikaca se Opi kozobe ämäri rota, drikaca ono ami omozana, ko ami perezana. 9 Male ko rigye a'done oso ma ami gbegbe taegyii maro si. 10 'Diaza atana gwo ekye: “Taegyii Paulo ro orivoya luwuekye ago mbaraekye, oko ondro nda ka'dote orivoya ama yibe, nda orivoya mbaraako, ago ata ndaro ko ta amba yi!” 11 Lidri oso inye'do beṛo unine anjioko a'do toto i'do tase mègyibe taegyii amaro ya tuse ama be i'do ago tase màyena 'da tuse ama orivoya ami yibe si.
12 Endaro màlena ko andivo amaro o'bane a'done alo kode andivo amaro ojone ànya se kayibe andivo ànyaro eŋgana lekuru iyi yibe. Ànya orivoya amama yi! Ànya kayi ojo modo ànyaro eŋgana andivo ànyaro eŋga si, ago ànya kayi vure andivo ànyaro ro ope rueŋga modo ànyaro rosi! 13 Caoko, ta amaro ta, driuŋgyi amaro a'dona ko ndrani otana drisi, anya orina 'da ädu losi ro se Lu korabe ämäri ya, se ono loci losi amaro ami lako tro kigye. 14 Ago oso ami orivoya äduna ya ronye, moyina ko ndra ànya kundusi tuse mikyite amire si mezi Lazokado ta Kristo rota te ämiri. 15 Ago mä̀ŋgyidri kote losi se azii koyebe ta ndrani äduna se Lu korabe ämäri drisi. Ago ma'ba mi be taoma amiro ombana ndi ago 'dooko ma'dona ndi mbara be losi parandra oyene ami lako, ondoalo äduna se Lu korabe ya. 16 'Dooko mänina ndi Lazokado opene 'bädri azaka yasi ndra ami kundusi ago beṛo ko ämäri driuŋgyine ta losi se ayete nja ämvu mano aza roya ta.
17 Oko oso taegyi kabe ata ronye ekye: “Nda se kolebe driuŋgyine beṛo ndäri driuŋgyine tase Opi koyebe ta ayani.” 18 Tana Opi kani takado 'dialo ro usuna anjioko nda 'de ndi ree, ago ko tase nda kabe usuna kadoro andivo ndaro ro 'do ayani.