1 Ч и нам знов зачинати доручувати самих себе? Чи ми потребуємо, як дехто, листів доручальних до вас чи від вас?

Are we starting to commend ourselves again? Or we do not, like some, need written credentials or letters of recommendation to you or from you, ?

2 В и наш лист, написаний у наших серцях, якого всі люди знають і читають!

you yourselves are our letter of recommendation (our credentials), written in your hearts, to be known (perceived, recognized) and read by everybody.

3 В иявляєте ви, що ви лист Христів, нами вислужений, що написаний не чорнилом, але Духом Бога Живого, не на таблицях камінних, але на тілесних таблицях серця.

You show and make obvious that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, not written with ink but with Spirit of living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Т аку ж певність до Бога ми маємо через Христа,

Such is the reliance and confidence that we have through Christ toward and with reference to God.

5 н е тому, що ми здібні помислити щось із себе, як від себе, але наша здібність від Бога.

Not that we are fit (qualified and sufficient in ability) of ourselves to form personal judgments or to claim or count anything as coming from us, but our power and ability and sufficiency are from God.

6 І Він нас зробив бути здатними служителями Нового Заповіту, не букви, а духа, бо буква вбиває, а дух оживляє.

Who has qualified us as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant, not of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit; for the code kills, but the Spirit makes alive.

7 К оли ж служіння смерті, вирізане на каменях буквами, було таке славне, що Ізраїлеві сини не могли дивитись на обличчя Мойсея, через славу минущу обличчя його,

Now if the dispensation of death engraved in letters on stone, was inaugurated with such glory and splendor that the Israelites were not able to look steadily at the face of Moses because of its brilliance, that was to fade and pass away,

8 с кільки ж більш буде в славі те служіння духа!

Why should not the dispensation of the Spirit '> ministry whose task it is to cause men to obtain and be governed by the Holy Spirit] be attended with much greater and more splendid glory?

9 Б о як служіння осуду слава, то служіння праведности тим більше багате на славу!

For if the service that condemns had glory, how infinitely more abounding in splendor and glory must be the service that makes righteous!

10 Н е прославилося бо прославлене, у цій частині, ради слави, що вона переважує,

Indeed, in view of this fact, what once had splendor '> the glory of the Law in the face of Moses] has come to have no splendor at all, because of the overwhelming glory that exceeds and excels it '> the glory of the Gospel in the face of Jesus Christ].

11 б о коли славне те, що минає, то багато більш у славі те, що триває!

For if that which was but passing and fading away came with splendor, how much more must that which remains and is permanent abide in glory and splendor!

12 Т ож, мавши надію таку, ми вживаємо великої сміливости,

Since we have such hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely and openly and fearlessly.

13 а не як Мойсей, що покривало клав на обличчя своє, щоб Ізраїлеві сини не дивилися на кінець того, що минає.

Nor like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze upon the finish of the vanishing.

14 А ле засліпилися їхні думки, бо те саме покривало аж до сьогодні лишилось незняте в читанні Старого Заповіту, бо зникає воно Христом.

In fact, their minds were grown hard and calloused; for until this present day, when the Old Testament (the old covenant) is being read, that same veil still lies, not being lifted that in Christ it is made void and done away.

15 А ле аж до сьогодні, як читають Мойсея, на їхньому серці лежить покривало,

Yes, down to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their minds and hearts.

16 к оли ж вони навернуться до Господа, тоді покривало здіймається.

But whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.

17 Г осподь же то Дух, а де Дух Господній, там воля.

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).

18 М и ж відкритим обличчям, як у дзеркало, дивимося всі на славу Господню, і зміняємося в той же образ від слави на славу, як від Духа Господнього.

And all of us, as with unveiled face, continued to behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; from the Lord the Spirit.