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

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.

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.

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

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

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

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.

whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

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

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants 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 it is the God who commanded light to 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. Cast Down but Unconquered

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.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

8 W e are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;

We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 p ursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not 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 dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

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 always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

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

So then death is working in us, but 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;

And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,

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

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

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 sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Seeing the Invisible

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 lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by 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 affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal 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.

while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.