Paul speaks about his own work

¹⁶ I say this again: nobody should think that I am a fool. But even if you do think that, still listen to me. Give me a chance to praise myself a little, as a fool would do. ¹⁷ When I say good things about myself like this, it is not how the Lord would talk. No, these are the words of a fool. ¹⁸ But many other people are using human ideas to praise themselves. So I will also do that.