For we walk by faith, not by sight. | For we walk by faith, not by sight. |
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not 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 liberty. | Now this Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. |
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. | For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so too, through Christ, do we receive our consolation. |
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. | 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. |
While you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us 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. |
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. | Consequently, anyone united to Christ is a new creation. The old order has passed away. Behold, all has become new. |
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. | The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. |
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. | Our temporary light afflictions are preparing for us an incomparable weight of eternal glory. |
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. | As sorrowful, and yet we are always rejoicing; as poor, and yet we make many rich; as having nothing, and yet we possess everything. |
Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man 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. |
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who 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. |
For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and 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. |
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; 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 sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. | Such godly sorrow results in repentance that leads to salvation and causes no regret, whereas worldly sorrow produces death. |
Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given 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. |
But “he who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” For not he who commends himself is approved, but 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 toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for 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. |
Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, 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 our earthly house, this tent, 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. |
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion 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? |
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. 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. |
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits 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. |
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness 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, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word 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. |