2 Corinthians 3 Parallel Bible Translations

2 Corinthians 3 ▼
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Mace New Testament
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English Standard Version
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1 Do I begin again to commend my self? or need I, as some others, commendatory letters to 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 my epistle, your conversion being writ in, my heart, 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 which shows you to be the epistle of Christ, written by my ministration, not with ink, but with the spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on living tables 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 It is by Christ that I have this confidence in God. Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Such confidence we have through Christ before God.
5 not that I am sufficient of myself to effect any thing by the strength of my own reason: but my sufficiency 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 who also hath enabled me to be a minister of the new covenant, not of the literal sense, but of the spiritual meaning: it is the letter that denounces 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 law engraven on stone, the letter of whose sanction is death, was delivered with such glory, that the children of Israel could not steadily behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, tho' it was transient; 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 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 the ministration of condemnation was illustrious, the ministration of righteousness will be much more glorious. 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 since that which distinguished the first had no glory, when compared to that of the other, which far excell'd it. 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 if that which was only temporary was glorious, much more shall that which is permanent be glorious. 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 Having then such an opinion of my ministry, I use great plainness of speech. Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
13 and do not act as Moses did, who threw a veil over his face so as to hinder the children of Israel from perceiving the end of that which was to cease: 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 besides, their minds were greatly prejudiced: for that very veil would still have obstructed the understanding of the old testament, unless it had been taken away by 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 nevertheless, when Moses is read, the veil upon their mind continues unto this day: 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 their mind shall turn to the Lord, that veil too 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 for the spiritual meaning of the law centers in him, and the spirit of the law is gospel-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 as we lay aside the veil, the divine light gradually informs the mind, according as we attend to that spiritual sense, which points out 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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