New Revised Standard NRS
The Bible in Basic English BBE
1 Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.
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For this reason, because we have been made servants of this new order, through the mercy given to us, we are strong:
2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
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And we have given up the secret things of shame, not walking in false ways, and not making use of the word of God with deceit; but by the revelation of what is true, as before God, we have the approval of every man's sense of right and wrong.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
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But if our good news is veiled, it is veiled from those who are on the way to destruction:
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
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Because the god of this world has made blind the minds of those who have not faith, so that the light of the good news of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, might not be shining on them.
5 For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake.
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For our preaching is not about ourselves, but about Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants through Jesus.
6 For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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Seeing that it is God who said, Let light be shining out of the dark, who has put in our hearts the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.
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But we have this wealth in vessels of earth, so that it may be seen that the power comes not from us but from God;
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
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Troubles are round us on every side, but we are not shut in; things are hard for us, but we see a way out of them;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
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We are cruelly attacked, but not without hope; we are made low, but we are not without help;
10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies.
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In our bodies there is ever the mark of the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be seen in our bodies.
11 For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh.
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For, while living, we are still being given up to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be seen in our flesh, though it is under the power of death.
12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
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So then, death is working in us, but life in you.
13 But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—"I believed, and so I spoke"—we also believe, and so we speak,
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But having the same spirit of faith, as it is said in the Writings, The words of my mouth came from the faith in my heart; in the same way, our words are the outcome of our faith;
14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence.
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Because we are certain that he who made the Lord Jesus come back from the dead, will do the same for us, and will give us a place in his glory with you.
15 Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
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For we go through all things on account of you, because the greater the number to whom the grace is given, the greater is the praise to the glory of God.
16 So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
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For which cause we do not give way to weariness; but though our outer man is getting feebler, our inner man is made new day by day.
17 For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure,
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For our present trouble, which is only for a short time, is working out for us a much greater weight of glory;
18 because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.
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While our minds are not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are for a time; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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 Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.