Revised Standard Version RSV
The Latin Vulgate VUL
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?
1
incipimus iterum nosmet ipsos commendare aut numquid egemus sicut quidam commendaticiis epistulis ad vos aut ex vobis
2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on your hearts, to be known and read by all men;
2
epistula nostra vos estis scripta in cordibus nostris quae scitur et legitur ab omnibus hominibus
3 and you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
3
manifestati quoniam epistula estis Christi ministrata a nobis et scripta non atramento sed Spiritu Dei vivi non in tabulis lapideis sed in tabulis cordis carnalibus
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.
4
fiduciam autem talem habemus per Christum ad Deum
5 Not that we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our competence is from God,
5
non quod sufficientes simus cogitare aliquid a nobis quasi ex nobis sed sufficientia nostra ex Deo est
6 who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not in a written code but in the Spirit; for the written code kills, but the Spirit gives life.
6
qui et idoneos nos fecit ministros novi testamenti non litterae sed Spiritus littera enim occidit Spiritus autem vivificat
7 Now if the dispensation of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such splendor that the Israelites could not look at Moses' face because of its brightness, fading as this was,
7
quod si ministratio mortis litteris deformata in lapidibus fuit in gloria ita ut non possent intendere filii Israhel in faciem Mosi propter gloriam vultus eius quae evacuatur
8 will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater splendor?
8
quomodo non magis ministratio Spiritus erit in gloria
9 For if there was splendor in the dispensation of condemnation, the dispensation of righteousness must far exceed it in splendor.
9
nam si ministratio damnationis gloria est multo magis abundat ministerium iustitiae in gloria
10 Indeed, in this case, what once had splendor has come to have no splendor at all, because of the splendor that surpasses it.
10
nam nec glorificatum est quod claruit in hac parte propter excellentem gloriam
11 For if what faded away came with splendor, what is permanent must have much more splendor.
11
si enim quod evacuatur per gloriam est multo magis quod manet in gloria est
12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,
12
habentes igitur talem spem multa fiducia utimur
13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not see the end of the fading splendor.
13
et non sicut Moses ponebat velamen super faciem suam ut non intenderent filii Israhel in faciem eius quod evacuatur
14 But their minds were hardened; for to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.
14
sed obtusi sunt sensus eorum usque in hodiernum enim diem id ipsum velamen in lectione veteris testamenti manet non revelatum quoniam in Christo evacuatur
15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds;
15
sed usque in hodiernum diem cum legitur Moses velamen est positum super cor eorum
16 but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed.
16
cum autem conversus fuerit ad Deum aufertur velamen
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
17
Dominus autem Spiritus est ubi autem Spiritus Domini ibi libertas
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
18
nos vero omnes revelata facie gloriam Domini speculantes in eandem imaginem transformamur a claritate in claritatem tamquam a Domini Spiritu
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.