2 Corinthians 4

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Such by God's mercy is our ministry, and therefore we do not waver	1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, and in as much as we have obtained mercy for ourselves, we are not inadequate.
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 For we renounce dishonorable and hidden acts, not walking by craftiness, nor by adulterating the Word of God. Instead, by the manifestation of truth, we commend ourselves to the conscience of each man before God.
3 If our gospel seems to be veiled at al , it is so to those who are on the way to destruction,	3 But if our Gospel is in some way hidden, it is hidden to 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 As for them, the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, would not shine in them.
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 are not preaching about ourselves, but about Jesus Christ our Lord. We are merely your servants through 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 told the light to shine out of darkness, has shined a light into our hearts, to illuminate the knowledge of the splendor of God, in the person of Christ Jesus.
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, so that what is sublime may be of the power of God, and not of us.
8 We are subjected to every kind of hardship, but never distressed; we see no way out but we neverdespair;	8 In all things, we endure tribulation, yet we are not in anguish. We are constrained, yet we are not destitute.
9 we are pursued but never cut off; knocked down, but stil have some life in us;	9 We suffer persecution, yet we have not been abandoned. We are thrown down, yet we do not perish.
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 We ever carry around the mortification of Jesus in our bodies, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
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 ever handed over unto death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 In us, then, death is at work; in you, life.	12 Therefore, death is at work in us, and life is at work 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 But we have the same Spirit of faith. And just as it is written, “I believed, and for that reason I spoke,” so we also believe, and for that reason, we also 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 For we know that the One who raised up Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and will place us with you.
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 Thus, all is for you, so that grace, abounding through many in thanksgiving, may abound to 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 For this reason, we are not insufficient. But it is as though our outer man is corrupted, while our inner man is renewed from day to day.
17 The temporary, light burden of our hardships is earning us for ever an utterly incomparable, eternalweight of glory,	17 For though our tribulation is, at the present time, brief and light, it accomplishes in us the weight of a sublime eternal glory, beyond measure.
18 since what we aim for is not visible but invisible. Visible things are transitory, but invisible thingseternal.	18 And we are contemplating, not the things that are seen, but the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are temporal, whereas the things that are not seen are eternal.