< 2 Corinthians 4 >
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:
So then, as I have this ministry because of God’s mercy to me, I do not lose heart.
2 but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
I have renounced the hidden things of shame, not spending my life in craftiness, nor adulterating the word of God; but setting forth the truth openly, I strive to commend myself to every man’s conscience as in the sight of God.
3 But and if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that are perishing:
But even if my gospel, too, is "veiled," it is among those who are on the way to perish that it is "veiled."
4 in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them]. (aiōn )
Among them the god of this age has blinded the understanding of the unbelieving so that the sunshine of the gospel of God, should not dawn upon them. (aiōn )
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
It is not myself that I proclaim, but Christ Jesus as Master, and myself that I proclaim, and myself your slave for Jesus’ sake.
6 Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
For God who said, "Out of darkness light shall shine," is he who has shone in my heart, that the sunrise of the knowledge of God may shine forth in the face of Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;
But I hold this treasure in an earthen vessel, in order that the surpassing greatness of the power may be from God, and not from myself.
8 [we are] pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;
On every side I am hard pressed, yet not hemmed in; perplexed, but not in despair;
9 pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;
persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.
10 always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.
Wherever I go, I am always carrying about in my body the dying of Jesus, in order that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in this body of mine.
11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
For, alive though I am, I am always given over to death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may shine forth in my dying flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
So while death is working in me, life is working in you.
13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, I believed, and therefore did I speak; we also believe, and therefore also we speak;
But having the same spirit of faith of which it is written, I believed, and therefore have spoken, I also believe and so I speak.
14 knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you.
For I know that He who raised from the dead the Lord Jesus, will raise me also with Jesus, and set me at your side in his presence.
15 For all things [are] for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God.
For everything is for your sakes, so that more abundant grace, because of the thanksgiving of many voices, might overflow to the glory of God.
16 Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.
For this reason, as I have said, I do not lose courage, but even though my outward man is wasting away, my inward man is being renewed, day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; (aiōnios )
For my light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working out for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, (aiōnios )
18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (aiōnios )
while I am gazing not at things seen, but at things unseen; for things seen are temporal, but things unseen are eternal. (aiōnios )