1Therefore*, since we havethis1ministry, as we 2receivedmercy, we 3do not loseheart,
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but we have renounced the 4thingshidden because of shame, not walking in craftinessor5adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth6commendingourselves to everyman'sconscience in the sight of God.
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And evenif our 7gospel is 8veiled, it is veiled to 9those who are perishing,
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in whosecase10the god of 11thisworld has 12blinded the minds of the unbelievingso that they might not see the 13light of the gospel of the 14glory of Christ, who is the 15image of God.
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For we 16do not preachourselves but ChristJesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus'sake.
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For God, who said, "17Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has 18shone in our hearts to give the 19Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
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But we havethistreasure in 20earthenvessels, so that the surpassinggreatness of 21the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
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we are 22afflicted in everyway, but not 23crushed; 24perplexed, but not despairing;
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25persecuted, but not 26forsaken; 27struckdown, but not destroyed;
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28alwayscarryingabout in the body the dying of Jesus, so that 29the life of Jesusalso may be manifested in our body.
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For we who live are constantly being deliveredover to death for Jesus'sake, so that the life of Jesusalso may be manifested in our mortalflesh.
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But having the same30spirit of faith, according to what is written, "31I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we alsobelieve, therefore we alsospeak,
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knowing that He who 32raised the LordJesus33will raise us also with Jesus and will 34present us with you.
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For allthings are 35for your sakes, so that the grace which is 36spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
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Therefore we 37do not loseheart, but though* our outerman is decaying, yet our 38innerman is 39being renewedday by day.
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For momentary, 40lightaffliction is producing for us an eternalweight of gloryfarbeyondallcomparison,
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while we 41look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.