[1] Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose
heart. [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] And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those
who are perishing. [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 what we preach
is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants
for Jesus' sake. [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 have this treasure in
earthen vessels, to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not
to us. [8] We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but
not driven to despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but
not destroyed; [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 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] So death is at
work in us, but life in you. [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] knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also
with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. [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] So we do not lose heart. Though our
outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day.
[17] For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal
weight of glory beyond all comparison, [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.
