2 Corinthians 3
1 Do you say that this is self-recommendation once more? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
αρχομεθα παλιν εαυτους συνιστανειν η μη χρηζομεν ως τινες συστατικων επιστολων προς υμας η εξ υμων συστατικων
2 Our letter of recommendation is yourselves--a letter written on our hearts and everywhere known and read.
η επιστολη ημων υμεις εστε εγγεγραμμενη εν ταις καρδιαις ημων γινωσκομενη και αναγινωσκομενη υπο παντων ανθρωπων
3 For all can see that you are a letter of Christ entrusted to our care, and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the ever-living God--and not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts as tablets.
φανερουμενοι οτι εστε επιστολη χριστου διακονηθεισα υφ ημων εγγεγραμμενη ου μελανι αλλα πνευματι θεου ζωντος ουκ εν πλαξιν λιθιναις αλλ εν πλαξιν καρδιας σαρκιναις
4 Such is the confidence which we have through Christ in the presence of God;
πεποιθησιν δε τοιαυτην εχομεν δια του χριστου προς τον θεον
5 not that of ourselves we are competent to decide anything by our own reasonings, but our competency comes from God.
ουχ οτι ικανοι εσμεν αφ εαυτων λογισασθαι τι ως εξ εαυτων αλλ η ικανοτης ημων εκ του θεου
6 It is He also who has made us competent to serve Him in connexion with a new Covenant, which is not a written code but a Spirit; for the written code inflicts death, but the Spirit gives Life.
ος και ικανωσεν ημας διακονους καινης διαθηκης ου γραμματος αλλα πνευματος το γαρ γραμμα αποκτεινει το δε πνευμα ζωοποιει
7 If, however, the service that proclaims death--its code being engraved in writing upon stones--came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily on the face of Moses because of the brightness of his face--a vanishing brightness;
ει δε η διακονια του θανατου εν γραμμασιν εντετυπωμενη εν λιθοις εγενηθη εν δοξη ωστε μη δυνασθαι ατενισαι τους υιους ισραηλ εις το προσωπον μωσεως δια την δοξαν του προσωπου αυτου την καταργουμενην
8 will not the service of the Spirit be far more glorious?
πως ουχι μαλλον η διακονια του πνευματος εσται εν δοξη
9 For if the service which pronounces doom had glory, far more glorious still is the service which tells of righteousness.
ει γαρ η διακονια της κατακρισεως δοξα πολλω μαλλον περισσευει η διακονια της δικαιοσυνης εν δοξη
10 For, in fact, that which was once resplendent in glory has no glory at all in this respect, that it pales before the glory which surpasses it.
και γαρ ουδε δεδοξασται το δεδοξασμενον εν τουτω τω μερει ενεκεν της υπερβαλλουσης δοξης
11 For if that which was to be abolished came with glory, much more is that which is permanent arrayed in glory.
ει γαρ το καταργουμενον δια δοξης πολλω μαλλον το μενον εν δοξη
12 Therefore, cherishing a hope like this, we speak without reserve, and we do not imitate Moses,
εχοντες ουν τοιαυτην ελπιδα πολλη παρρησια χρωμεθα
13 who used to throw a veil over his face to hide from the gaze of the children of Israel the passing away of what was but transitory.
και ου καθαπερ μωσης ετιθει καλυμμα επι το προσωπον εαυτου προς το μη ατενισαι τους υιους ισραηλ εις το τελος του καταργουμενου
14 Nay, their minds were made dull; for to this very day during the reading of the book of the ancient Covenant, the same veil remains unlifted, because it is only in Christ that it is to be abolished.
αλλ επωρωθη τα νοηματα αυτων αχρι γαρ της σημερον το αυτο καλυμμα επι τη αναγνωσει της παλαιας διαθηκης μενει μη ανακαλυπτομενον ο τι εν χριστω καταργειται
15 Yes, to this day, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies upon their hearts.
αλλ εως σημερον ηνικα αναγινωσκεται μωσης καλυμμα επι την καρδιαν αυτων κειται
16 But whenever the heart of the nation shall have returned to the Lord, the veil will be withdrawn.
ηνικα δ αν επιστρεψη προς κυριον περιαιρειται το καλυμμα
17 Now by "the Lord" is meant the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, freedom is enjoyed.
ο δε κυριος το πνευμα εστιν ου δε το πνευμα κυριου εκει ελευθερια
18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, reflecting like bright mirrors the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same likeness, from one degree of radiant holiness to another, even as derived from the Lord the Spirit.
ημεις δε παντες ανακεκαλυμμενω προσωπω την δοξαν κυριου κατοπτριζομενοι την αυτην εικονα μεταμορφουμεθα απο δοξης εις δοξαν καθαπερ απο κυριου πνευματος
