1 Therefore, having this ministry, as we have obtained mercy we faint not,
2 but have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but commending ourselves by the manifestation of the truth to every conscience of men before God.
3 But if our gospel is vailed it is vailed among the lost,
4 in whom the god of this life has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God, may not shine.
5 For we preach not ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us,
8 being afflicted in every thing but not distressed, being perplexed but not in despair,
9 being persecuted but not deserted, being cast down but not destroyed,
10 always carrying about the death of Jesus in the body, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
11 For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So that death works in us, but life in you.
13 And having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe and therefore speak,
14 knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace may abound through the thanksgiving of many to the glory of God.
16 Wherefore we faint not, but if our outward man is destroyed our inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For the light affliction which is for a moment, works out for us more abundantly an eternal weight of glory,
18 while we look 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 those which are unseen are eternal.