2 Corinthians 3

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

Are we once again seeking our own praise? Or do we need, like some, letters of approval to or from you?

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

You are the love letter etched in our hearts, visible and understood by everyone.

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.

You are clearly shown to be a letter from Christ, delivered by us. It's not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. Not on stone tablets, but on the soft tablets of the heart.

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:

We have such deep faith in God, thanks to Christ's guidance.

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

We don't have the power to achieve anything on our own; it's God who gives us the strength and capability.

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

He has empowered us to serve under the new covenant, not of the written law, but of the Spirit. For the written law kills, but the Spirit brings life.

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

Even though the law, etched in stone, brought death and yet shone with such glory that the Israelites couldn't bear to look at Moses' radiant face, a glory that was destined to fade away.

How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

Won't the work of the spirit be even more magnificent?

For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

If the old ministry that brought condemnation had glory, the ministry that brings righteousness is far more glorious.

For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

What was once glorious has no glory now, compared with the glory that surpasses it.

For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

If what has passed was beautiful, what remains is even more breathtaking.

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

Given the hope we possess, we speak with utmost clarity and sincerity.

And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

Unlike Moses, who had to cover his face so that the people of Israel couldn't fully grasp the fading glory, the end of what was to be abolished.

But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

Their understanding was clouded, for even today, the same veil remains when they read the Old Testament; a veil that is lifted through Christ.

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

Even now, when they read about Moses, their hearts remain shrouded, unable to truly understand.

Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

When you turn to God, the veil of confusion will be lifted.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The Lord embodies the Spirit, and wherever His Spirit resides, freedom flourishes.

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.

As we openly gaze upon the Lord's magnificence, we are transformed, mirroring His radiance, growing ever more glorious through His Spirit.