1 T herefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint.

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 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.

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

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 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.

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 don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your 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 s eeing 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.

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 clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may 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 pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;

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 ursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet 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 in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed 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 always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed 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 then 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 that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.” We also believe, and therefore also we 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, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving 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 don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is 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 our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;

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 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.

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.