| New International Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. | 1Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. |
| 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. | 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. |
| 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. | 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. |
| 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. | 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. |
| 5For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. | 5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. |
| 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. | 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. |
| 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. | 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. |
| 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; | 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; |
| 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. | 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; |
| 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. | 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. |
| 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal 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. |
| 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. | 12So death is at work in us, but life in you. |
| 13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, | 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, |
| 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. | 14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. |
| 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. | 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. |
| 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. | 16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. |
| 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. | 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, |
| 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. | 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. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | 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. |
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