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, having this ministry, as we have had mercy shewn us, 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 rejected the hidden things of shame, not walking in deceit, nor falsifying the word of God, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men before 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.

But if also our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those that are lost;

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 has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ, who is image of God, should not shine forth.

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 do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus Lord, and ourselves your bondmen 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).

Because the God who spoke that out of darkness light should shine who has shone in our hearts for the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in face of 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 surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us:

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;

every way afflicted, but not straitened; seeing no apparent issue, but our way not entirely shut up;

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;

persecuted, but not abandoned; cast down, but 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 on account of Jesus, 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 that death works 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,

And having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I have believed, therefore have I spoken; we also believe, 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 who has raised the Lord Jesus shall raise us also with Jesus, and shall present 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 for your sakes, that the grace abounding through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to 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 if indeed our outward man is consumed, yet the inward 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 momentary light affliction works for us in surpassing measure 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 that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen for a time, but those that are not seen eternal.