2 Corinthians 4

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Such by God's mercy is our ministry, and therefore we do not waver	1 Therefore, since we have this ministry through the mercy shown us, we are not discouraged.
2 but have renounced al shameful secrecy. It is not our way to be devious, or to falsify the word of God;instead, in God's sight we commend ourselves to every human being with a conscience by showing the truthopenly.	2 Rather, we have renounced shameful, hidden things; not acting deceitfully or falsifying the word of God, but by the open declaration of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
3 If our gospel seems to be veiled at al , it is so to those who are on the way to destruction,	3 And even though our gospel is veiled, it is veiled for those who are perishing,
4 the unbelievers whose minds have been blinded by the god of this world, so that they cannot seeshining the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.	4 in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5 It is not ourselves that we are proclaiming, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as your servantsfor Jesus' sake.	5 For we do not preach ourselves but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for the sake of Jesus.
6 It is God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' that has shone into our hearts to enlighten themwith the knowledge of God's glory, the glory on the face of Christ.	6 For God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of (Jesus) Christ.
7 But we hold this treasure in pots of earthenware, so that the immensity of the power is God's and notour own.	7 But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.
8 We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never distressed; we see no way out but we neverdespair;	8 We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9 we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but stil have some life in us;	9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible inour body.	10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
11 Indeed, while we are stil alive, we are continually being handed over to death, for the sake of Jesus,so that the life of Jesus, too, may be visible in our mortal flesh.	11 For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 In us, then, death is at work; in you, life.	12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 But as we have the same spirit of faith as is described in scripture -- I believed and therefore I spoke-we, too, believe and therefore we, too, speak,	13 Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we too believe and therefore speak,
14 realising that he who raised up the Lord Jesus wil raise us up with Jesus in our turn, and bring us tohimself -- and you as wel .	14 knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence.
15 You see, everything is for your benefit, so that as grace spreads, so, to the glory of God, thanksgivingmay also overflow among more and more people.	15 Everything indeed is for you, so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.
16 That is why we do not waver; indeed, though this outer human nature of ours may be fal ing intodecay, at the same time our inner human nature is renewed day by day.	16 Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 The temporary, light burden of our hardships is earning us for ever an utterly incomparable, eternalweight of glory,	17 For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18 since what we aim for is not visible but invisible. Visible things are transitory, but invisible thingseternal.	18 as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.