2 Corinthians 3 Parallel Bible Translations

2 Corinthians 3 ▼
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CPDV
Catholic Public Domain Version
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English Standard Version
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1 Must we begin again to commend ourselves? Or are we in need (as some are) of epistles of commendation for you, or from you? Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
2 You are our Epistle, written in our hearts, which is known and read by all men. You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
3 It has been made manifest that you are the Epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written down, not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, and not on tablets of stone, but on the fleshly tablets of the heart. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 And we have such faith, through Christ, toward God. Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Such confidence we have through Christ before God.
5 It is not that we are adequate to think anything of ourselves, as if anything was from us. But our adequacy is from God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
6 And he has made us suitable ministers of the New Testament, not in the letter, but in the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 But if the ministration of death, engraved with letters upon stones, was in glory, (so much so that the sons of Israel were not able to gaze intently upon the face of Moses, because of the glory of his countenance) even though this ministration was ineffective, Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was,
8 how could the ministration of the Spirit not be in greater glory? will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation is with glory, so much more is the ministration of justice abundant in glory. For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
10 And neither was it glorified by means of an excellent glory, though it was made illustrious in its own way. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.
11 For if even what was temporary has its glory, then what is lasting has an even greater glory. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12 Therefore, having such a hope, we act with much confidence, Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
13 and not as Moses did, in placing a veil over his face, so that the sons of Israel would not gaze intently at his face. This was ineffective, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away.
14 for their minds were obtuse. And, even until this present day, the very same veil, in the readings from the Old Testament, remains not taken away (though, in Christ, it is taken away). But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.
15 But even until today, when Moses is read, a veil is still set over their hearts. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
16 But when they will have been converted to the Lord, then the veil shall be taken away. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 Now the Spirit is Lord. And wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 Yet truly, all of us, as we gaze upon the unveiled glory of the face of the Lord, are transfigured into the same image, from one glory to another. And this is done by the Spirit of the Lord. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
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