1 ¶ Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?

Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you?

2 Y e are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men;

3 F orasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables that are hearts of flesh.

4 A nd such trust we have through the Christ towards God:

And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward:

5 N ot that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God,

not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;

6 ¶ who also has made us able ministers of the new testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

7 B ut if the ministry of death in the letter engraved in stones was glorious, so that the sons of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which glory was to fade away,

But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away:

8 H ow shall not the ministry of the Spirit be for greater glory?

how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?

9 F or if the ministry of condemnation had glory, much more shall the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.

For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

10 F or even that which was so glorious had no glory in this respect, in comparison with the glory that excels.

For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth.

11 F or if that which fades away was glorious, much more shall that which remains be glorious.

For if that which passeth away was with glory, much more that which remaineth is in glory.

12 ¶ Seeing then that we have such hope, we speak with great confidence,

Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,

13 A nd not as Moses, who put a veil over his face, that the sons of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that glory which was to fade away:

and are not as Moses, who put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on the end of that which was passing away:

14 ( And thus their senses became hardened, for until this day remains the same veil not uncovered in the reading of the old testament, which veil is taken away in Christ.

but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that it is done away in Christ.

15 B ut even unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart.

16 N evertheless when they convert to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.)

But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17 F or the Lord is the Spirit, and where that Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 T herefore we all, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord with uncovered face, are transformed from glory to glory into the same likeness, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.