17NOT FOR WE ARE LIKE THE MANY PEDDLING THE WORD <THE> OF GOD, BUT AS OF SINCERITY, BUT AS OF GOD, BEFORE <THE> GOD IN CHRIST WE SPEAK. 17For we are not like so many others, who peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as men sent from God.
1ARE WE BEGINNING AGAIN OURSELVES TO COMMEND? OR SURELY NOT WE NEED LIKE SOME COMMENDATORY LETTERS TO YOU OR FROM YOU COMMENDATORY [LETTERS]? Ministers of a New Covenant 1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
2THE LETTER OF US YOU YOURSELVES ARE INSCRIBED IN THE HEARTS OF US, BEING KNOWN AND BEING READ BY ALL MEN, 2You yourselves are our letter, inscribed on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
3BEING REVEALED THAT YOU ARE A LETTER OF CHRIST HAVING BEEN MINISTERED TO BY US INSCRIBED NOT IN INK BUT WITH [THE] SPIRIT OF GOD [THE] LIVING, NOT ON TABLETS OF STONE BUT ON TABLETS OF HEARTS HUMAN. 3It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4CONFIDENCE NOW SUCH WE HAVE THROUGH <THE> CHRIST TOWARD <THE> GOD; 4Such confidence before God is ours through Christ.
5NOT FOR FROM OURSELVES SUFFICIENT WE ARE TO RECKON ANYTHING AS OF OURSELVES, BUT THE SUFFICIENCY OF US [IS] OF <THE> GOD, 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
6WHO ALSO HAS MADE COMPETENT US [AS] MINISTERS OF A NEW COVENANT, NOT OF [THE] LETTER BUT OF [THE] SPIRIT; THE FOR LETTER KILLS, <THE> BUT THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE. 6And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7IF NOW THE MINISTRY <THE> OF DEATH IN LETTERS ENGRAVED IN STONES WAS PRODUCED IN GLORY, SO AS FOR NOT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK INTENTLY THE SONS OF ISRAEL INTO THE FACE OF MOSES ON ACCOUNT OF THE GLORY OF THE FACE OF HIM WHICH IS FADING, The Glory of the New Covenant (Exodus 34:10–35) 7Now if the ministry of death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at the face of Moses because of its fleeting glory,
8HOW SURELY MORE THE MINISTRY OF THE SPIRIT WILL BE IN GLORY? 8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?
9IF FOR TO THE MINISTRY <THE> OF CONDEMNATION [WAS] GLORY, MUCH MORE ABOUNDS THE MINISTRY <THE> OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IN GLORY! 9For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!
10EVEN FOR NOT HAS BEEN GLORIFIED THAT GLORIFIED IN THIS <THE> RESPECT ON ACCOUNT OF THE SURPASSING [IT] GLORY. 10Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.
11IF FOR THAT WHICH IS FADING AWAY [WAS] THROUGH GLORY, MUCH MORE [IS] THAT REMAINING IN GLORY! 11For if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which endures!
12HAVING THEREFORE SUCH HOPE GREAT BOLDNESS WE USE, 12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
13AND NOT AS MOSES WAS PUTTING A VEIL OVER THE FACE OF HIMSELF FOR <THE> NOT TO LOOK INTENTLY THE SONS OF ISRAEL INTO THE END OF THAT FADING AWAY; 13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at the end of what was fading away.
14BUT WERE HARDENED THE MINDS OF THEM. UNTIL FOR THE PRESENT DAY THE SAME VEIL AT THE READING OF THE OLD COVENANT REMAINS NOT BEING LIFTED, FOR IN CHRIST IS BEING REMOVED, 14But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.
15BUT UNTO THIS DAY WHEN EVER MAY BE READ MOSES, A VEIL OVER THE HEART OF THEM LIES; 15And even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.
16WHEN HOWEVER EVER [ONE] SHALL HAVE TURNED TO [THE] LORD, IS TAKEN AWAY THE VEIL. 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
17THE NOW LORD THE SPIRIT IS; WHERE NOW THE SPIRIT OF [THE] LORD [IS] THERE [IS] FREEDOM. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18WE OURSELVES NOW ALL UNVEILED IN FACE THE GLORY OF [THE] LORD BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR, THE SAME IMAGE ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO FROM GLORY TO GLORY EVEN AS FROM [THE] LORD [THE] SPIRIT. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.