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.
Pawulu la tankandiri kumoo a la dookuwo to
1 Nte Pawulu be ali daani kaŋ ka bo niŋ Kiristu* la mooyaa la, aniŋ a la tenkuŋo. Doolu ka a fo le ko, n ka jooteeyaa le, niŋ m be ali kono, bari n ka fatiyaa le, niŋ n te ali kono. 2 M be ali daani kaŋ, ali kana a tinna, ŋa fatiyaa niŋ n naata ali yaa, kaatu n dankeneyaata ñiŋ na le ko, nte be fatiyaa la moolu fee le, mennu ka ǹ tuumi ko, ǹ ka ǹ na hadamadiŋyaa la hame kuwolu le nooma. 3 M̀ be baluuriŋ hadamadiŋyaa kono ñaa-wo-ñaa, bari m̀ buka keloo ke ko hadamadiŋolu ka a ke ñaameŋ. 4 Ntolu la kelejooraŋolu maŋ ke ñiŋ duniyaa kelejooraŋolu ti, bari ŋà Alla la sembe baa le soto ka tata bambandiŋolu kasaara. Ǹ ka moolu la soosooroolu tiñaa le, 5 aniŋ faŋ waroo siifaa bee, mennu si ke kalewo ti moolu ye ka Alla loŋ. Ǹ ka moolu la miira jawoolu bayi le fo ì si Kiristu batu. 6 Niŋ ali la yaamarimutoo timmata, m̀ pareeta le ka yaamari mutabaloolu bee kuluu.
7 Alitolu la jeroo, ali ka kuwolu kiitii wo le ñaama. Niŋ moo-wo-moo ye ñiŋ dankeneyaa soto ko, ate mu Kiristu le taa ti, wo to a si a faŋo hakiloo bulandi ko, ate mu Kiristu taa ti ñaameŋ, ntolu fanaa mu a taa ti wo le ñaama. 8 Maariyo ye kaŋo meŋ dii ǹ na ka ali bambandi, wo maŋ ke ka ali kasaara. Hani niŋ nte kibirita landatambirinke wo kaŋo kaŋ, n na kibiroo te ke la n ye malu kuwo ti. 9 Ali kana a miira ko, n lafita ka ali silandi n na leetaroolu le la. 10 Baawo moo doolu ka ñiŋ ne fo n na kuwo to ko, “Kumoolu mennu be a la leetaroolu kono ka fatiyaa le, ì ye bambaŋ, bari niŋ a be maabeeriŋ, a balajaatoo ka lamfu le, aduŋ a la diyaamoo maŋ jari feŋ na.” 11 Bari wo moolu si ñiŋ loŋ ko, ntolu ka kumoolu mennu safee ǹ na leetaroolu kono, ǹ ka wolu le ke, niŋ m̀ faŋo be maabeeriŋ.
12 Ntolu te haañi la ka m̀ faŋolu niŋ moo doolu tembe, mennu ka ì faŋolu jayi. Niŋ itolu ka ì faŋolu la kuwo laa, aniŋ ì ka ì faŋolu la kuwo tembe, wo to ì mu fahaamubaloolu le ti. 13 Ntolu la kibiroo te tambi la kuwo la, Alla ye mennu karafa ntolu ma fo ǹ si futa noo hani alitolu ma. 14 M̀ maŋ tara m̀ faŋolu la kuwo tambindi kaŋ, kaatu ntolu le keta foloo ti ka futa alitolu ma, n niŋ Kiristu la kibaari betoo. 15 Ǹ na kibiroo maŋ tambi naanewo la, moo koteŋolu la dookuwo to. Bari ǹ na jikoo mu ñiŋ ne ti ko, niŋ ali la lannoo yiriwaata, ǹ na dookuwo ali kono, a kenoo fanaa si fanu. 16 Wo to le ǹ si kibaari betoo kawandi noo bankoolu kaŋ, hani ka tambi alitolu la, fo ǹ kana kibiri dookuwo la, moo koteŋolu ye meŋ ke fokabaŋ. 17 A si ke ko a be safeeriŋ ñaameŋ:
“Niŋ meŋ be kibiri la, a si kibiri Maariyo la kuwo la.”
18 Kaatu a maŋ ke ko, moo meŋ ka a faŋo jayi, a mu lannamoo le ti, bari Maariyo faŋo ye meŋ jayi, wo le mu lannamoo ti.
