2 Corinthians 4
Worldwide English (New Testament)
4 God in his kindness gave us this work. So we do not give up.
2 We never do wrong things nor do things in secret. We do not fool people nor change God's message. No, we tell people the truth openly. We let every person judge us for himself. We know that God sees all we do.
3 If the good news which we tell is not clear to some people, it is because they are lost. They do not believe.
4 The god of this world has covered their minds so they cannot see. They cannot see with their minds the light of the good news of Christ. They cannot see how bright and wonderful Christ is. He is just like God himself.
5 We do not talk about ourselves, but about Christ Jesus our Lord. And we are your slaves for Jesus' sake.
6 God said, `Let light shine in the darkness.' And he has let light shine in our hearts too. He gave us light that shows how bright and wonderful God is. We see this light when we look at the face of Christ.
7 This is something of great value within us, but we are like pots made of earth and clay. This power is greater than any other power. But it comes from God, not from us.
8 We have much trouble, but we do not give up. We are in hard places, but help always comes.
9 People trouble us, but God is always with us. We are beaten, but we are not killed.
10 We always feel as if our body is dying, just as Jesus died. Then the life of Jesus also can be seen in our body.
11 While we live we are always ready to die for Jesus. And so the life of Jesus is also seen in our bodies which will die.
12 So then, while death is at work in us, life is at work at the same time.
13 We believe the same way as the one who wrote, `I believed, and so I talked.' We also believe, and so we talk to you.
14 We know this. God raised up the Lord Jesus, and he will raise us up also with Jesus. He will bring us all to stand together before God.
15 All this is happening for you so that the blessings of God will reach more people. Then more people will thank God. And this will make God's name greater.
16 So we do not give up. Our body gets weak, but our heart gets new strength day after day.
17 The load of trouble we carry now is a little heavy. But this trouble is getting something great and wonderful ready for us which will last for ever.
2 Corinthians 4
King James Version
4 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
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, hath shined in our hearts, to give 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 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
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