2 Corinthians 3
1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? or need we, as do some, epistles of commendation to you or from you?
Do we begin again to show you who we are? Or do we, like others, need that letters recommendatory of us should be written to you? Or, that ye should write recommendations of us?
2 Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men;
Ye are our epistle, written on our hearts, and known and read by every man.
3 being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables [that are] hearts of flesh.
For ye know that ye are an epistle of the Messiah, ministered by us; not written with ink, but by the Spirit of the living God; not on tables of stone, but on the tablets of the heart of flesh.
4 And such confidence have we through Christ to God-ward:
And such confidence have we in the Messiah towards God.
5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God;
Not that we are sufficient to think any thing as of ourselves; but our efficiency is from God:
6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
who hath fitted us to be ministers of the new Testament, not in the letter, but in the Spirit; for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.
7 But if the ministration of death, written, [and] engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which [glory] was passing away:
Now if the ministration of death was engraved upon stones in writing, and was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look on the face of Moses, on account of the glory upon his face which vanished away;
8 how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?
how then shall not the ministration of the Spirit be still more glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
For if there was glory in the ministration of condemnation, how much more shall the ministration of justification excel in glory?
10 For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth.
For that which was glorious, was as if not glorious, in comparison with this which excelleth in glory.
11 For if that which passeth away [was] with glory, much more that which remaineth [is] in glory.
For if that which is abolished was glorious, much more must that which abideth be glorious.
12 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech,
Seeing therefore we have this hope, we the more speak with boldness;
13 and [are] not as Moses, [who] put a veil upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look stedfastly on the end of that which was passing away:
and are not like Moses, who threw a vail over his face, that the children of Israel might not behold the termination of that which was abolished.
14 but their minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed [to them] that it is done away in Christ.
But they were blinded in their understanding; for until this day, when the old Testament is read, the same vail resteth upon them; nor is it manifest to them, that it is abolished by the Messiah.
15 But unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart.
And unto this day, when Moses is read, a vail is thrown upon their hearts.
16 But whensoever it shall turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
But when any of them is turned unto the Lord, the vail is taken from him.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, [there] is liberty.
Now the Lord himself is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
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.
And we all, with uncovered faces, behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and are transformed into the same likeness, from glory to glory, as by the Lord the Spirit.
