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1 Do we begin to commend ourselves again? Or do [not(# expecting the answer ‘No’)] we need, as some others, letters of recommendation (to) you or from you?
2 You are our letter, having been inscribed in our heart, being known and being read by all men,
3 being manifested that you are an epistle of Christ, having been ministered by us, having been inscribed not (by) ink but (by the) spirit of (the) living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh hearts(=of human hearts).
4 And we have such confidence through [the] Christ toward [the] God.
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to claim anything as (being) from ourselves, but our sufficient (is) from [the] God,
6 who also made us sufficient (as) ministers of a new covenant, not of (the) letter but of (the) Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 And if the ministry of death, having been engraved in letters (on) stones, was in glory, so as the sons of Israel not to be able to look(=so that the people of Israel could not look steadily) at Moses’ face because of the glory of his face, (which glory was) fading away,
8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be rather in glory(=more glorious)?
9 For if the ministry of condemnation (had) glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more (in) glory.
10 For even the thing having been glorified has not been glorified in this respect because of the surpassing glory.
11 For if the thing (which was) fading away (came) through glory, the remaining thing (is) much more in glory.
12 Therefore, having such a hope, we use(=act) (with) great boldness,
13 and not as Moses, (who) was putting a veil upon his face, for the sons of Israel not to look(=so that the people of Israel could not look) at the end of the fading (glory),
14 but their minds were hardened, for until this day the same veil remains not being unveiled(=unlifted) on(=in) the reading of the old covenant, because it is fading(=taken) away in Christ.
15 But until this day whenever Moses may be read(=is read), a veil lies on their heart.
16 And whenever he(=anyone) might turn(=turns) to (the) Lord, the veil is taken away.
17 And the Lord is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord (is), (there is) freedom.
18 And we all, (with) [having been] unveiled face, contemplating(=looking in a mirror) the glory of (the) Lord, are being transformed (into) the same image from glory to glory, as(=which comes) from (the) Lord (who is the) Spirit.