2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore, seeing that we haue this ministerie, as we haue receiued mercy, we faint not:
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2 But haue cast from vs ye clokes of shame, and walke not in craftines, neither handle we the worde of God deceitfully: but in declaration of the trueth we approue our selues to euery mans conscience in the sight of God.
No, we have renounced the secrecy prompted by shame, refusing to adopt crafty ways, or to tamper with God’s message, and commending ourselves to everyone’s conscience, in the sight of God, by our exhibition of the truth.
3 If our Gospell bee then hid, it is hid to them that are lost.
And, even if the good news that we bring is veiled, it is veiled only in the case of those who are on the path to ruin –
4 In whom the God of this world hath blinded the mindes, that is, of the infidels, that the light of the glorious Gospell of Christ, which is the image of God, should not shine vnto them. (aiōn g165)
people whose minds have been blinded by the God of this age, unbelievers as they are, so that the light from the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the incarnation of God, should not shine for them. (aiōn g165)
5 For we preach not our selues, but Christ Iesus the Lord, and our selues your seruaunts for Iesus sake.
(For it is not ourselves that we proclaim, but Christ Jesus, as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.)
6 For God that commanded the light to shine out of darknesse, is he which hath shined in our hearts, to giue the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Iesus Christ.
Indeed, the same God who said “Out of darkness light will shine,” has shone in on our hearts, so that we should bring out into the light the knowledge of the glory of God, seen in the face of Christ.
7 But we haue this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellencie of that power might be of God, and not of vs.
This treasure we have in these earthen vessels, so that its all-prevailing power may be seen to come from God, and not to be our own.
8 Wee are afflicted on euery side, yet are we not in distresse: we are in doubt, but yet wee despaire not.
Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; though perplexed, never driven to despair;
9 We are persecuted, but not forsaken: cast downe, but we perish not.
though pursued, never abandoned; though struck down, never killed!
10 Euery where we beare about in our bodie the dying of the Lord Iesus, that the life of Iesus might also be made manifest in our bodies.
We always bear on our bodies the marks of the death that Jesus died, so that the life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our bodies.
11 For we which liue, are alwaies deliuered vnto death for Iesus sake, that the life also of Iesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
Indeed, we who still live are continually being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life also of Jesus may be exhibited in our mortal nature.
12 So then death worketh in vs, and life in you.
And so, while death is at work within us, life is at work within you.
13 And because we haue the same spirite of faith, according as it is written, I beleeued, and therefore haue I spoken, we also beleeue, and therefore speake,
But, in the same spirit of faith as that expressed in the words – “I believed, and therefore I spoke,” we, also believe, and therefore speak.
14 Knowing that he which hath raised vp the Lord Iesus, shall raise vs vp also by Iesus, and shall set vs with you.
For we know that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with him, and will bring us, with you, into his presence.
15 For all thinges are for your sakes, that that most plenteous grace by the thankesgiuing of many, may redound to the praise of God.
For all this is for your sakes, so that the loving kindness of God, spreading from heart to heart, may cause yet more hearts to overflow with thanksgiving, to his glory.
16 Therefore we faint not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed daily.
Therefore, as I said, we do not lose heart. No, even though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction which is but for a moment, causeth vnto vs a farre most excellent and an eternall waight of glorie: (aiōnios g166)
The light burden of our momentary trouble is preparing for us a weight of imperishable glory, beyond all measure. (aiōnios g166)
18 While we looke not on the thinges which are seene, but on the things which are not seene: for the things which are seene, are temporall: but the things which are not seene, are eternall. (aiōnios g166)
We, all the while, gaze not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is transient, but what is unseen is imperishable. (aiōnios g166)
