2 Corinthians 3

Young's Literal Translation

3 Do we begin again to recommend ourselves, except we need, as some, letters of recommendation unto you, or from you?

²our letter ye are, having been written in our hearts, known and read by all men,

³manifested that ye are a letter of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in the tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart,

⁴and such trust we have through the Christ toward God,

⁵not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as of ourselves, but our sufficiency [is] of God,

⁶who also made us sufficient [to be] ministrants of a new covenant, not of letter, but of spirit; for the letter doth kill, and the spirit doth make alive.

⁷and if the ministration of the death, in letters, engraved in stones, came in glory, so that the sons of Israel were not able to look stedfastly to the face of Moses, because of the glory of his face -- which was being made useless,

⁸how shall the ministration of the Spirit not be more in glory?

⁹for if the ministration of the condemnation [is] glory, much more doth the ministration of the righteousness abound in glory;

¹⁰for also even that which hath been glorious, hath not been glorious -- in this respect, because of the superior glory;

¹¹for if that which is being made useless [is] through glory, much more that which is remaining [is] in glory.

¹²Having, then, such hope, we use much freedom of speech,

¹³and [are] not as Moses, who was putting a vail upon his own face, for the sons of Israel not stedfastly to look to the end of that which is being made useless,

¹⁴but their minds were hardened, for unto this day the same vail at the reading of the Old Covenant doth remain unwithdrawn -- which in Christ is being made useless --

¹⁵but till to-day, when Moses is read, a vail upon their heart doth lie,

¹⁶and whenever they may turn unto the Lord, the vail is taken away.

¹⁷And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty;

¹⁸and we all, with unvailed face, the glory of the Lord beholding in a mirror, to the same image are being transformed, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3

New International Version

3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves^(A) again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation^(B) to you or from you? ²You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.^(C) ³You 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,^(D) not on tablets of stone^(E) but on tablets of human hearts.^(F)

⁴Such confidence^(G) we have through Christ before God. ⁵Not that we are competent in ourselves^(H) to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.^(I) ⁶He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant^(J)—not of the letter^(K) but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.^(L)

The Greater Glory of the New Covenant

⁷Now if the ministry that brought death,^(M) 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,^(N) transitory though it was, ⁸will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ⁹If the ministry that brought condemnation^(O) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!^(P) ¹⁰For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. ¹¹And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

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