Treasure in Clay Jars
1 God has been kind enough to trust us with this work. This is why we never give up. 2 We don't do shameful things that must be kept secret. And we don't try to fool anyone or twist God's message around. God is our witness that we speak only the truth, so others will be sure we can be trusted. 3 If there is anything hidden about our message, it is hidden only to someone who is lost.
4 The god who rules this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers. They cannot see the light, which is the good news about our glorious Christ, who shows what God is like. 5 We are not preaching about ourselves. Our message is that Jesus Christ is Lord. He also sent us to be your servants. 6 The Scriptures say, “God commanded light to shine in the dark.” Now God is shining in our hearts to let you know that his glory is seen in Jesus Christ.
7 We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us. 8 We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don't know what to do, we never give up. 9 In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again. 10-11 We face death every day because of Jesus. Our bodies show what his death was like, so his life can also be seen in us. 12 This means that death is working in us, but life is working in you.
13 In the Scriptures it says, “I spoke because I had faith.” We have this same kind of faith. So we speak 14 because we know that God raised the Lord Jesus to life. And just as God raised Jesus, he will also raise us to life. Then he will bring us into his presence together with you. 15 All of this has been done for you, so more and more people will know how kind God is and will praise and honor him.
Faith in the Lord
16 We never give up. Our bodies are gradually dying, but we ourselves are being made stronger each day. 17 These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing. 18 Things that are seen don't last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. This is why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen.
IV.
1 Un tōdēļ, ka mums šitei kolpōšona ir nu Dīva žālsirdeibas, mes napagurstam; 2 bet gon, atsateikuši nu slāptōs bailes, mes nastaigojam viļteibā, arī Dīva vōrda nakrūpļojam. Mes sevi atvēļejam ikvīna cylvāka sirdsapziņai, jo mes atklōti Dīva prīškā sludynojam patīseibu. 3 Jo myusu sludynōšona izalīk aizklōta, tod jei ir aizklōta tikai 4 naticeigajim, kas īt pazusšonā, kuru prōtu šō pasauļa zemes dīvs ir apstulbōjis, lai jim naspeidātu Evangelija gaisma par Kristus gūdeibu, kurs ir Dīva attāls. 5 Na poši sevi, bet gon Jezu Kristu mes sludynojam par Kungu, un sevi pošus — kai jyusu kolpus Jezus dēļ. 6 Jo Dīvs, kas saceja: Nu tymsuma lai speid gaisma, myusu sirdīs īspeidēja, lai speidātu Dīva gūdeibas pazeišona Jezus Kristus personā.
Dīva spāks cylvāka naspākā.
7 Bet šytū krōjumu mes nosojam trauslūs traukūs, lai pōrmēreigais spāks pasarōdeitu nu Dīva asam, bet na nu mums. 8 Mes vysā kamā asam gon spaidūs, bet na strupceļā; tryukumā, bet na izmysumā; 9 vojōti, bet na atstōti; apspīsti, bet na iznycynōti. 10 Mes vysod sovā mīsā nosojam Jezus nōves cīsšonas, lai myusu mīsā pasarōdeitu Jezus dzeive. 11 Lai gon mes dzeivojam, Jezus dēļ vīnmār asam padūti nōvei, lai caur tū myusu mērsteigajā mīsā pasarōdeitu Jezus dzeive.
12 Tai tad, myusūs dorbojās nōve, bet jyusūs dzeiveiba. 13 Un tai kai mums visim ir tys pats ticeibas gors, kai stōv raksteits: Es asmu īticējis un tōpēc es runoju, tad mes tycam un tōpēc arī runojam. 14 Mes zynom, ka Tys, kas Kungu Jezu pīcēle, arī myusus ar Jezu pīceļs un reizē ar jums nūstōdeis sev prīškā. 15 Tai tad, vyss nūteik jyusu dēļ, lai arvīnu bogōtōk pasarōdeitu žēlesteiba un nu daudzejim jū bogōta pateiceiba nōktu Dīvam par gūdu.
16 Tōpēc arī mes napagurstam. Lai gon myusu ōrejais cylvāks izneikst, īkšejais, tūmār, dīn dīnā palīk jauns. 17 Un šitī ocumirkleigī, vīglī spaidi dūd mums pōrmēreigu, myužeigu, vysu atsverūšu gūdeibu. 18 Tikai mums myusu skotu jōgrīž na uz radzamū, bet gon uz naradzamū; jo radzamais pastōv tikai eisu laiceņu, bet naradzamais myužeigi.
