2 Corinthians 4

1Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we faint not:

1Since God in his mercy has given us this ministry, we do not give up.

2but 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.

2We have rejected secret and shameful ways. We do not use trickery or distort the word of God. Instead, we state the truth plainly, and in the sight of God we present ourselves to everyone’s conscience.

3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish:

3If the Good News we preach is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are headed for destruction.

4in 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.

4The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. He keeps them from seeing the light of the Good News—the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

5We are not preaching about ourselves; we are preaching that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that we are your servants for Jesus' sake.

6Seeing 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.

6God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has made his light shine in our hearts. He did this so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

7But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves;

7We have this treasure in fragile clay jars to show that this extraordinary power is from God and not from us.

8we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;

8We are pressured on every side, but we are not crushed. We are confused, but we do not give up in despair.

9pursued, yet not forsaken; smitten down, yet not destroyed;

9We are persecuted, but God has not abandoned us. We are knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

10always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body.

10We always carry the death of Jesus in our own bodies so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

11For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

11While we are alive, we are constantly facing death because of Jesus, so that his life may be seen in our dying bodies.

12So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

12So death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

13But 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;

13The Scriptures say, 'I believed, and so I spoke.' Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore we speak.

14knowing that he that raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also with Jesus, and shall present us with you.

14We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus to life, will also raise us up with Jesus and bring us into his presence along with you.

15For 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.

15All of this is for your benefit. As more and more people receive God’s grace, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

16Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.

16That is why we do not give up. Even though our physical bodies are wearing out, our spirits are being made new every single day.

17For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;

17The small troubles we have right now are only temporary, but they are producing for us a glory that is much greater and will last forever.

18while 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.

18So we don't look at the things we can see, but at the things we cannot see. The things we see now are here today and gone tomorrow, but the things we cannot see will last forever.