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

¶ 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?

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.

Forasmuch 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.

4 A nd such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

And such trust we have through the Christ towards God:

5 N ot that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God,

6 W ho also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

¶ 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.

7 B ut if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

But 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,

8 H ow shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

How shall not the ministry of the Spirit be for greater glory?

9 F or if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, much more shall the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.

10 F or even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

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

11 F or if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

For if that which fades away was glorious, much more shall that which remains be glorious.

12 S eeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

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

13 A nd not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

And 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:

14 B ut their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

(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.

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

But even unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

16 N evertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

Nevertheless when they convert to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.)

17 N ow the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

For the Lord is the Spirit, and where that Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 B ut we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Therefore 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.