2 Corinthians 4

Therefore, having this ministry, just as we received mercy, we do not become discouraged.

Instead, we have rejected the shameful hidden things, not walking in craftiness, nor distorting the word of God, but by the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man’s conscience before God. \*

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to the ones perishing,

to whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, does not appear {to them}. \*

For we do not proclaim ourselves, but the Lord Christ Jesus, and ourselves {as} your servants for Jesus’ sake.

For God {is} the one who said, “From darkness a light will shine,” who shined in our hearts for the illumination of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. \*

But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that the surpassing greatness of the power might be from God and not from us;

in every {side} being pressed in, but not being crushed; being perplexed, but not despairing;

being persecuted, but not being forsaken; being thrown down, but not perishing;

always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus so that the life of Jesus also might be revealed in our body; \*

for we being alive are always being handed over to death for the sake of Jesus so that also the life of Jesus might be revealed in our mortal flesh.

So then, death works in us, but life in you. \*

But having the same spirit of the faith according to {what} has been written: “I believed; therefore I spoke,” we also believe; therefore we also speak,

knowing that the one having raised Jesus will also raise us with Jesus and will present {us} with you.

For all these {things are} for your sake so that the grace, having increased through more and more {people}, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. \*

So we do not become discouraged. Rather, even if our outer man is decaying, yet our inner {man} is being renewed day {by} day.

For our momentary, light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.

We are not watching the things being seen, but the things not being seen. For the things being seen {are} temporary, but the things not being seen {are} eternal. \*