[1] Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some,
letters of commendation to you or from you? [2] You are our letter, written
in our hearts, known and read by all men; [3] being revealed that you are a
letter of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the
Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are
hearts of flesh. [4] Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; [5]
not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from
ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; [6] who also made us sufficient
as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit. For
the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. [7] But if the service of
death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of
Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his
face; which was passing away: [8] won`t rather service of the spirit be
rather with more glory? [9] For if the service of condemnation has glory,
much rather does the service of righteousness exceed in glory. [10] For
most assuredly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious
in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. [11] For if that
which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
[12] Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, [13]
and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face, that the children of Israel
wouldn`t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away. [14]
But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of
the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ in passes away.
[15] But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. [16]
But whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. [17] Now the
Lord is the Spirita and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
[18] But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of
the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as
from the Lord, the Spirit.
