| English Standard Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. | 1Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. |
| 2But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. | 2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone's conscience by an open display of the truth. |
| 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. | 3But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. |
| 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. | 4In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. |
| 5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. | 5For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus's sake. |
| 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. | 6For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ. |
| 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. | 7Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. |
| 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; | 8We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; |
| 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; | 9we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. |
| 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. | 10We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. |
| 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. | 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus's sake, so that Jesus's life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh. |
| 12So death is at work in us, but life in you. | 12So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. |
| 13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, | 13And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak. |
| 14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. | 14For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you. |
| 15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. | 15Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God. |
| 16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. | 16Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. |
| 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, | 17For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. |
| 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. | 18So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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