⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[a](A) made his light shine in our hearts^(B) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.^(C)

⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay^(D) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God^(E) and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side,^(F) but not crushed; perplexed,^(G) but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted,^(H) but not abandoned;^(I) struck down, but not destroyed.^{(J) 10} We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,^(K) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.^{(L) 11} For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,^(M) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.^(N)

¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[b](O) Since we have that same spirit of^[c] faith,^(P) we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead^(Q) will also raise us with Jesus^(R) and present us with you to himself.^{(S) 15} All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving^(T) to overflow to the glory of God.

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart.^(U) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly^(V) we are being renewed^(W) day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.^{(X) 18} So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,^(Y) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Praise to God for a Living Hope

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!^(A) In his great mercy^(B) he has given us new birth^(C) into a living hope^(D) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,^{(E) 4} and into an inheritance^(F) that can never perish, spoil or fade.^(G) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,^{(H) 5} who through faith are shielded by God’s power^(I) until the coming of the salvation^(J) that is ready to be revealed^(K) in the last time. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice,^(L) though now for a little while^(M) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.^{(N) 7} These have come so that the proven genuineness^(O) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire^(P)—may result in praise, glory and honor^(Q) when Jesus Christ is revealed.^{(R) 8} Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him^(S) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.^(T)