For we walk by faith, not by sight. | For we walk by faith, not by sight. |
Although we are human beings, we do not engage in battle according to human standards. | For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. |
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Now this Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. | Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. |
For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so too, through Christ, do we receive our consolation. | For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. |
Our temporary light afflictions are preparing for us an incomparable weight of eternal glory. | For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. |
Consequently, anyone united to Christ is a new creation. The old order has passed away. Behold, all has become new. | Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. |
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. |
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 our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. |
Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outer self is continuing to decay, our inner self is being renewed day by day. | So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. |
As sorrowful, and yet we are always rejoicing; as poor, and yet we make many rich; as having nothing, and yet we possess everything. | As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. |
Remember this: if you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly, and if you sow generously, you will reap generously as well. | The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. |
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. | For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. |
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. | You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. |
Such godly sorrow results in repentance that leads to salvation and causes no regret, whereas worldly sorrow produces death. | For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. |
All this has been done by God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation. | All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. |
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. | Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
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. | “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. |
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. | 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. |
The one who provides seed for sowing and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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? | Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? |
For our eyes are fixed not on what is seen but rather on that which cannot be seen. What is visible is transitory; what is invisible is eternal. | As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |
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. | 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. |