¹⁴ But thanks be to God,^(A) who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma^(B) of the knowledge^(C) of him everywhere. ¹⁵ For we are to God the pleasing aroma^(D) of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.^{(E) 16} To the one we are an aroma that brings death;^(F) to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?^{(G) 17} Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.^(H) On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity,^(I) as those sent from God.^(J)

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves^(K) again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation^(L) to you or from you? ² You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.^{(M) 3} You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God,^(N) not on tablets of stone^(O) but on tablets of human hearts.^(P)

⁴ Such confidence^(Q) we have through Christ before God. ⁵ Not that we are competent in ourselves^(R) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.^{(S) 6} He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant^(T)—not of the letter^(U) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.^(V)

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

⁷ Now if the ministry that brought death,^(W) which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory,^(X) transitory though it was, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹ If the ministry that brought condemnation^(Y) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!^{(Z) 10} For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹ And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

¹² Therefore, since we have such a hope,^(AA) we are very bold.^{(AB) 13} We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face^(AC) to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. ¹⁴ But their minds were made dull,^(AD) for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant^(AE) is read.^(AF) It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. ¹⁶ But whenever anyone turns to the Lord,^(AG) the veil is taken away.^{(AH) 17} Now the Lord is the Spirit,^(AI) and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.^{(AJ) 18} And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate^[a](AK) the Lord’s glory,^(AL) are being transformed into his image^(AM) with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Present Weakness and Resurrection Life

4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy^(AN) we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.^{(AO) 2} Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways;^(AP) we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God.^(AQ) On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience^(AR) in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel^(AS) is veiled,^(AT) it is veiled to those who are perishing.^{(AU) 4} The god^(AV) of this age^(AW) has blinded^(AX) the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,^(AY) who is the image of God.^{(AZ) 5} For what we preach is not ourselves,^(BA) but Jesus Christ as Lord,^(BB) and ourselves as your servants^(BC) for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[b](BD) made his light shine in our hearts^(BE) to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.^(BF)

Psalm 62^[a]

For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David.