1 ¶ Therefore seeing we have this ministry, according to the mercy we have received, we fault not,

Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint.

2 b ut remove from ourselves every hidden shameful thing, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the word of God, but in the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

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 if our gospel is hid, it is hid to those that are lost,

Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;

4 I n whom the god of this age has blinded the understanding of those who do not believe, that the light of the gospel of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine in them.

in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.

5 F or we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your slaves for Jesus’ sake.

For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake;

6 F or the God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to bring forth the light of the knowledge of the clarity of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 B ut we have this treasure in clay vessels that the excellency of the virtue may be of God, and not of us.

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

8 ¶ We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are unsure of our lives, but not in despair;

We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;

9 p ersecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

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

10 a lways bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

11 F or we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

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

12 S o then death works in us, but life in you.

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

13 W e having the same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed and, therefore, I have spoken; we also believe and, therefore, speak;

But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.” We also believe, and therefore also we speak;

14 k nowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise us up also by Jesus and shall present us with you.

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

15 F or we suffer all these things for your sakes that the grace abounding through many may in the thanksgiving redound 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 to the glory of God.

16 T herefore we fault not; but though our outward man is wearing out, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.

17 F or our tribulation, which is momentary and light, prepares an exceeding and eternal weight of glory unto us;

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

18 w hile 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.

while we don’t look 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.