1 B ecause of this, having this ministration, according as we did receive kindness, we do not 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 did renounce for ourselves the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor deceitfully using the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth recommending ourselves unto every conscience of men, before 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 if also our good news is vailed, in those perishing it is vailed,

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 age did blind the minds of the unbelieving, that there doth not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the 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 not ourselves do we preach, but Christ Jesus -- Lord, and ourselves your servants because of Jesus;

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

6 b ecause God who said, Out of darkness light to shine, who did shine in our hearts, for the enlightening 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 A nd we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us;

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 o n every side being in tribulation, but not straitened; perplexed, but not in 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 ersecuted, but not forsaken; cast 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 t all times the dying of the Lord Jesus bearing about in the body, that the life also of Jesus in our body may be manifested,

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 always are we who are living delivered up to death because of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our dying 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 that, the death indeed in us doth work, and the life in you.

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

13 A nd having the same spirit of the faith, according to that which hath been written, `I believed, therefore I did speak;' we also do believe, therefore also do 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 did raise up the Lord Jesus, us also through Jesus shall raise up, and shall present 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 the all things because of you, that the grace having been multiplied, because of the thanksgiving of the more, may 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 w herefore, we faint not, but if also our outward man doth decay, yet the inward 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 the momentary light matter of our tribulation, more and more exceedingly an age-during weight of glory doth work out for us --

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 e not looking to the things seen, but to the things not seen; for the things seen temporary, but the things not seen age-during.

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.