2 Corinthians 3 Parallel Bible Translations

2 Corinthians 3 ▼
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1 DO we begin again to commend our selves? Or do we need, as some other people, epistles of commendation concerning us written to you, or that you should write commending us? 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, well-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 For you are known to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the spirit of the Living God; not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of the living 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 Such is the trust that we have through Christ toward God. Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Such confidence we have through Christ before God.
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our strength comes 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 Who has made us worthy to be ministers of the new covenant; not of the letter, but the Spirit: for the letter of the law punishes with death, 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 Now if the ministration of death, as contained in the letter of the law and engraved on stones, was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance; which glory was not lasting: 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 Why then shall not the ministration of the Spirit be more glorious? 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 there be glory in the ministration of condemnation, much more will the ministration of righteousness exceed 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 Just as that which was not glorious became glorified, in comparison with that, this excels in glory. 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 that which was not lasting was glorious, much more glorious will that be which endures. 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 Seeing therefore that we have such hope, we conduct ourselves bravely: 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 who put a veil over his face, so that the children of Israel might not look upon the fulness of the glory which was not lasting: 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 But their minds were blinded: for to this day, when the Old Testament is read, the same veil rests over them, and it is not known to them that the veil has been removed through Christ. 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 unto this day, whenever the books of Moses are read, the veil is upon 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 Nevertheless whenever a man turns to the LORD, the veil is 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 LORD is that very Spirit: and where 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 But we all, with open faces, see as in a mirror the glory of the LORD, and we shall be transformed into the same likeness, from one glory to another, just as the Spirit comes from 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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