| New International Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. | 1Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. |
| 2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God. | 2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone's conscience by an open display of the truth. |
| 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. | 3But if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. |
| 4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. | 4In their case, the god of this age 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 what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. | 5For we are not proclaiming ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus's sake. |
| 6For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ. | 6For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ. |
| 7But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. | 7Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us. |
| 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; | 8We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; |
| 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. | 9we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. |
| 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. | 10We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. |
| 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. | 11For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus's sake, so that Jesus's life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh. |
| 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. | 12So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. |
| 13It is written: "I believed; therefore I have spoken." Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, | 13And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak. |
| 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. | 14For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you. |
| 15All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. | 15Indeed, everything is for your benefit so that, as grace extends through more and more people, it may cause thanksgiving to increase to the glory of God. |
| 16Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. | 16Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. |
| 17For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. | 17For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. |
| 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. | 18So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. |
| New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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