1 T herefore, since we do hold and engage in this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not get discouraged (spiritless and despondent with fear) or become faint with weariness and exhaustion.

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:

2 W e have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man’s conscience.

but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

3 B ut even if our Gospel (the glad tidings) also be hidden (obscured and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God), it is hidden to those who are perishing and obscured to those who are spiritually dying and veiled to those who are lost.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish:

4 F or the god of this world has blinded the unbelievers’ minds, preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ (the Messiah), Who is the Image and Likeness of God.

in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn upon them.

5 F or what we preach is not ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants (slaves) for Jesus’ sake.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

6 F or God Who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts so as the Light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 H owever, we possess this precious treasure in vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;

8 W e are hedged in (pressed) on every side, but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;

we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;

9 W e are pursued (persecuted and hard driven), but not deserted; we are struck down to the ground, but never struck out and destroyed;

pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;

10 A lways carrying about in the body the liability and exposure to the same putting to death that the Lord Jesus suffered, so that the '> resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown forth by and in our bodies.

always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.

11 F or we who live are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the '> resurrection] life of Jesus also may be evidenced through our flesh which is liable to death.

For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

12 T hus death is actively at work in us, but '> our] life in you.

So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 Y et we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, I have believed, and therefore have I spoken. We too believe, and therefore we speak,

But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak;

14 A ssured that He Who raised up the Lord Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence.

knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 F or all things are for your sake, so that the more grace (divine favor and spiritual blessing) extends to more and more people and multiplies through the many, the more thanksgiving may increase to the glory of God.

For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.

16 T herefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day after day.

Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.

17 F or our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory,

For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;

18 S ince we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.