New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

Treasure in Fragile Clay Jars

Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way,a we never give up.

The Light of the Gospel

Therefore, having this ministry, as we have had mercy shewn us, we faint not.

We reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. We don’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. We tell the truth before God, and all who are honest know this.

2

But we have rejected the hidden things of shame, not walking in deceit, nor falsifying the word of God, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every conscience of men before God.

3

If the Good News we preach is hidden behind a veil, it is hidden only from people who are perishing.

3

But if also our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in those that are lost;

4

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

4

in whom the god of this world has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ, who is [the] image of God, should not shine forth [for them].

5

You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.

5

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus Lord, and ourselves your bondmen for Jesus' sake.

6

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

6

Because [it is] the God who spoke that out of darkness light should shine who has shone in our hearts for the shining forth of the knowledge of the glory of God in [the] face of [Jesus] Christ.

7

We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.b This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.

7

Treasures in Jars of Clay

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us:

8

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

8

every way afflicted, but not straitened; seeing no apparent issue, but our way not entirely shut up;

9

We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.

9

persecuted, but not abandoned; cast down, but not destroyed;

10

Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.

10

always bearing about in the body the dying of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our body;

11

Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies.

11

for we who live are always delivered unto death on account of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh;

12

So we live in the face of death, but this has resulted in eternal life for you.

12

so that death works in us, but life in you.

13

But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”c

13

And having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, I have believed, therefore have I spoken; *we* also believe, therefore also we speak;

14

We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus,d will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.

14

knowing that he who has raised the Lord Jesus shall raise us also with Jesus, and shall present [us] with you.

15

All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.

15

For all things [are] for your sakes, that the grace abounding through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.

16

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits aree being renewed every day.

16

Wherefore we faint not; but if indeed our outward man is consumed, yet the inward is renewed day by day.

17

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

17

For our momentary [and] light affliction works for us in surpassing measure an eternal weight of glory;

18

So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

18

while we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen [are] for a time, but those that are not seen eternal.

Parallel

New Living Translation

Darby Bible Translation

2 Corinthians 4

2 Corinthians 4