< 2 Corinthians 3 >
1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? We do not need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you, do we?
Are we to begin again, ourselves, to commend? or have we need, like some, of commendatory letters unto you, or from you?
2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by everyone;
Our letter, ye, are, inscribed in our hearts, noted and read by all men:
3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.
Manifesting yourselves that ye are a letter of Christ, ministered by us, —inscribed—not with ink, but with [the] Spirit of a Living God, not in tablets of stone, but in tablets [which are] hearts of flesh.
4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God;
But, such confidence as this, have we, through the Christ, towards God.
5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;
Not that, of our own selves, sufficient, are we, to reckon anything as of ourselves, but, our sufficiency, is of God; —
6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Who also hath made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant—not of letter, but of spirit, for, the letter, killeth, whereas, the Spirit, maketh alive.
7 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away:
But, if, the ministry of death, in letters engraven in stones, was brought into existence with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look steadfastly into the face of Moses, by reason of the glory of his face—which [glory] was to be done away,
8 won't service of the Spirit be with much more glory?
How shall not, rather, the ministry of the Spirit, be with glory?
9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
For, if, the ministry of condemnation was glory, much rather, doth the ministry of righteousness abound with glory,
10 For truly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses.
For that which hath been made glorious, hath not even been made glorious, in this respect, —by reason of the surpassing glory.
11 For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
For, if that which was to be done away [was brought in] with glory, much more, that which is to abide, is in glory.
12 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,
Having, then, such hope as this, great openness of speech, do we use; —
13 and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel would not look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away.
And are not just like Moses, [who] kept putting a veil upon his face, so that the sons of Israel should not look steadily unto the end of that which was to be done away.
14 But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away.
But their thoughts were turned into stone: for, until this very day, the same veil, upon the reading of the old covenant, abideth, not to be removed, because, in Christ, it is to be done away;
15 But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.
But, until this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil upon their heart, doth lie;
16 But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Howbeit, whensoever he turneth unto [the] Lord, he taketh off the veil:
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
And, the Lord, is, the Spirit: now, where the Spirit of one who is Lord [is, there is] freedom!
18 But we all, with unveiled face looking as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.
And, we all, with unveiled face, receiving and reflecting, the glory of [the] Lord, into the same image, are being transformed, from glory into glory, —even as from a Spirit that is Lord.