| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. | 1Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged. |
| 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. | 2But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience before God. |
| 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. | 3But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only 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. | 4among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel 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 do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' 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," is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ. |
| 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. | 7But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. |
| 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; | 8We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; |
| 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; | 9we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked 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. | 10always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible 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 are alive are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our mortal body. |
| 12So death is at work in us, but life in you. | 12As a result, death is at work in us, but life is at work 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, | 13But since we have the same spirit of faith as that shown in what has been written, "I believed; therefore I spoke," we also believe, therefore we also speak. |
| 14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. | 14We do so because we know that the one who raised up Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will bring us with you into his presence. |
| 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. | 15For all these things are for your sake, so that the grace that is including more and more people 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 despair, but even if our physical body is wearing away, 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 suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison |
| 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. | 18because we are not looking at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen. For what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. |
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