1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men, 3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.

4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God, 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face, which was passing away, 8 won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory? 9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. 11 For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

12 Having therefore such a hope, we use great boldness of speech, 13 and not as Moses, who put a veil on his face so that the children of Israel wouldn’t look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away. 14 But their minds were hardened, for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains, because in Christ it passes away. 15 But to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face seeing the glory of the Lord as in a mirror, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit.

1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or do we need, as some [others], epistles of commendation to you or [letters] of commendation from you?

2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

3 [Forasmuch as ye are] manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

4 And such trust we have through the Christ towards God:

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

6 who also has made us able ministers of the new testament, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 But if the ministry of death in the letter engraved in stones was glorious, so that the sons of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which [glory] was to fade away,

8 How shall not the ministry of the Spirit be for greater glory?

9 For if the ministry of condemnation [had] glory, much more shall the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.

10 For even that which was [so] glorious had no glory in this respect, in comparison with the glory that excels.

11 For if that which fades away [was] glorious, much more shall that which remains [be] glorious.

12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we speak with great confidence,

13 And not as Moses, [who] put a veil over his face, that the sons of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that [glory] which was to fade away:

14 (And thus their senses became hardened, for until this day remains the same veil not uncovered in the reading of the old testament, which [veil] is taken away in Christ.

15 But even unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

16 Nevertheless when they convert to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.)

17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and where that Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty.

18 Therefore we all, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord with uncovered face, are transformed from glory to glory into the same likeness, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.: