2 Corinthians 3

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need (as some do) epistles of commendation to you, or from you?	1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
2 You are our epistle, written in our hearts, which is known and read by all men:	2 You are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by all,
3 Being manifested, that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, and written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart.	3 shown to be a letter of Christ administered by us, written not in ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets that are hearts of flesh.
4 And such confidence we have, through Christ, towards God.	4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.
5 Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God.	5 Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God,
6 Who also hath made us fit ministers of the new testament, not in the letter, but in the spirit. For the letter killeth, but the spirit quickeneth.	6 who has indeed qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter brings death, but the Spirit gives life.
7 Now if the ministration of death, engraven with letters upon stones, was glorious; so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which is made void:	7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, was so glorious that the Israelites could not look intently at the face of Moses because of its glory that was going to fade,
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather in glory?	8 how much more will the ministry of the Spirit be glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.	9 For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of righteousness will abound much more in glory.
10 For even that which was glorious in this part was not glorified, by reason of the glory that excelleth.	10 Indeed, what was endowed with glory has come to have no glory in this respect because of the glory that surpasses it.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is in glory.	11 For if what was going to fade was glorious, how much more will what endures be glorious.
12 Having therefore such hope, we use much confidence:	12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we act very boldly
13 And not as Moses put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel might not steadfastly look on the face of that which is made void.	13 and not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites could not look intently at the cessation of what was fading.
14 But their senses were made dull. For, until this present day, the selfsame veil, in the reading of the old testament, remaineth not taken away (because in Christ it is made void).	14 Rather, their thoughts were rendered dull, for to this present day the same veil remains unlifted when they read the old covenant, because through Christ it is taken away.
15 But even until this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.	15 To this day, in fact, whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts,
16 But when they shall be converted to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.	16 but whenever a person turns to the Lord the veil is removed.
17 Now the Lord is a Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.	17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 But we all beholding the glory of the Lord with open face, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as by the Spirit of the Lord.	18 All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit.