For we walk by faith, not by sight. | For we walk by faith, not by sight. |
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. | Although we are human beings, we do not engage in battle according to human standards. |
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Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. | Now this Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. |
For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. | For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so too, through Christ, do we receive our consolation. |
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. | Consequently, anyone united to Christ is a new creation. The old order has passed away. Behold, all has become new. |
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. | He made him who did not know sin to be sin for our sake, so that through him we might become the righteousness of God. |
For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. | Our temporary light afflictions are preparing for us an incomparable weight of eternal glory. |
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. | Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outer self is continuing to decay, our inner self is being renewed day by day. |
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. |
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. | As sorrowful, and yet we are always rejoicing; as poor, and yet we make many rich; as having nothing, and yet we possess everything. |
You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. | Enriched in every way, you will be able to practice all your acts of generosity, which, through our intervention, will result in thanksgiving to God. |
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. | All this has been done by God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation. |
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. | As long as the goodwill is present, the gift will be acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. |
The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. | Remember this: if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly, and if you sow generously, you will reap generously as well. |
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. | Each person should give as much as he has decided in his heart, not with reluctance or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. | Such godly sorrow results in repentance that leads to salvation and causes no regret, whereas worldly sorrow produces death. |
“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. | If anyone would boast, let him boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is really approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. |
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. | And God is able to enrich you with an abundance of every grace, so that, with all of your needs provided for, you may be able to produce a surplus of good works. |
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? | Do not associate with unbelievers. For what basis can there be for a partnership between righteousness and lawlessness? What do light and darkness have in common? |
For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. | For this reason, I rejoice when I endure weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and distress for the sake of Christ. For it is when I am weak that I am strong. |
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. | And now, brethren, farewell. Mend your ways. Encourage one another. Be of one mind and live in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. |
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. | Now we know that if the earthly tent in which we live is destroyed, we have a dwelling prepared for us by God, a dwelling in the heavens, not made with human hands, that will be eternal. |
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. | The one who provides seed for sowing and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. |
Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. | Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from anything that can defile flesh or spirit, and thereby make our holiness perfect in the fear of God. |
That is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. | In other words, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, and not holding people’s transgressions against them, and he committed to us the message of reconciliation. |