1 T herefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,

Therefore, 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.

2 b ut we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

We 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.

3 A nd even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

But 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.

4 i n whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

For 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.

5 F or we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.

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

6 F or God, who said, “ Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

For 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).

7 B ut we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;

However, 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.

8 w e are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;

We 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;

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

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

10 a lways carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

Always 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.

11 F or we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

For 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.

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

Thus death is actively at work in us, but '> our] life in you.

13 B ut having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “ I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,

Yet 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,

14 k nowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.

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

15 F or all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

For 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.

16 T herefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

Therefore 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.

17 F or momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,

For 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,

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.

Since 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.