16 I repeat: no one should think that I am a fool. But if you do, at least accept me as a fool, so that I will have a little to boast of.
17 Of course what I am saying now is not what the Lord would like me to say; in this matter of boasting I am really talking like a fool.
18 But since there are so many who boast for merely human reasons, I will do the same.
19 You yourselves are so wise, and so you gladly tolerate fools!
20 You tolerate anyone who orders you about or takes advantage of you or traps you or looks down on you or slaps you in the face.
21 I am ashamed to admit that we were too timid to do those things!But if anyone dares to boast about something — I am talking like a fool — I will be just as daring.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I.