2 Corinthians 4

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, and in as much as we have obtained mercy for ourselves, we are not inadequate.	1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
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.	2 We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our Gospel is in some way hidden, it is hidden to those who are perishing.	3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.
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.	4 In their case the god of this world 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 likeness of God.
5 For we are not preaching about ourselves, but about Jesus Christ our Lord. We are merely your servants through Jesus.	5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
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.	6 For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
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.	7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.
8 In all things, we endure tribulation, yet we are not in anguish. We are constrained, yet we are not destitute.	8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9 We suffer persecution, yet we have not been abandoned. We are thrown down, yet we do not perish.	9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
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.	10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
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.	11 For while we live we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 Therefore, death is at work in us, and life is at work in you.	12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
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.	13 Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote, "I believed, and so I spoke," we too believe, and so we speak,
14 For we know that the One who raised up Jesus will raise us up also with Jesus and will place us with you.	14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
15 Thus, all is for you, so that grace, abounding through many in thanksgiving, may abound to the glory of God.	15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
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.	16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day.
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.	17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
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.	18 because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.