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)

¹⁵ All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving^(A) to overflow to the glory of God.

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