| International Standard Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown to us, we do not get discouraged. | 1Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. |
| 2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not use trickery or pervert God's word. By clear statements of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience before God. | 2But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. |
| 3So if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are dying. | 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. |
| 4In their case, the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe to keep them from seeing the light of the glorious gospel of the Messiah, who is the image of God. | 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. |
| 5For we do not preach ourselves, but rather Jesus the Messiah as Lord, and ourselves as merely your servants for Jesus' sake. | 5For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. |
| 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus the Messiah. | 6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. |
| 7But we have this treasure in clay jars to show that its extraordinary power comes from God and not from us. | 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. |
| 8In every way we're troubled but not crushed, frustrated but not in despair, | 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; |
| 9persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. | 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; |
| 10We are always carrying around the death of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our bodies. | 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. |
| 11While we are alive, we are constantly being handed over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be clearly shown in our mortal bodies. | 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. |
| 12And so death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. | 12So death is at work in us, but life in you. |
| 13Now since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with this Scripture: "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak. | 13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, |
| 14We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us to God together with you. | 14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. |
| 15All this is for your sake so that, as his grace spreads, more and more people will give thanks and glorify God. | 15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. |
| 16That's why we are not discouraged. No, even if outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are being renewed each and every day. | 16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. |
| 17This light, temporary nature of our suffering is producing for us an everlasting weight of glory, far beyond any comparison, | 17For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, |
| 18because we do not look for things that can be seen but for things that cannot be seen. For things that can be seen are temporary, but things that cannot be seen are eternal. | 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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