2 Corinthians · Chapter 3

[ edit] Bigynne we eftſoone for to comende, or preiſe, vs ſilf? or wher we neden, as ſumme, preiſynge lettris to ȝou, or of ȝou? Ȝe ben oure piſtle, writun in ȝoure hertis, þe which is kowd and radd of alle men; ȝe maad opyn, for ȝe ben þe piſtle of Criſt myniſtrid of vs, and writun, not wiþ enke, but by þe ſpirit of quyk God; not in ſtoony tablis, but in fleiſchly tablis of herte. Forſoþ we han ſuch triſt by Criſt to God; not þat we ben ſufficient for to þenke ony þing of vs, as of vs, but oure ſufficience is of God. Þe which and made vs able myniſtris of þe newe teſtament, not bi lettre, but by ſpirit; for þe lettre ſleiþ, forſoþ þe ſpirit quykeneþ.

For if þe myniſtracioun of deeþ defformyd by lettris in ſtoones was in glorie, ſo þat þe children of Iſrael myȝten not biholde in to þe face of Moyſes, for þe glorie of his cheere, þe which glorie is auoydid, hou not more þe myniſtracioun of ſpirit ſchal be in glorie? Forwhi if þe myniſtracioun of dampnacioun is in glorie, moche more þe myniſterie, or ſeruynge, of riȝtwyſneſſe is plenteuous in glorie. Forwhi neþer þat þat was cleer in þis part, was glorified for excellent glorie; ſoþly if þat þat is auoydid, is bi glorie, moche more þat þat dwelliþ is in glorie.

Þerfore we hauynge ſuch hope, vſen moche triſt; and not as Moyſes puttide a veyl on his face, þat þe children of Iſrael ſchulde not byholde in to his face, þe which veyl is auoydid. But þe wittis of hem ben aſtoneyed; ſoþli til in to þis day þe ſame veyl in redinge of þe oolde teſtament dwelliþ not ſchewid, for in Criſt it is auoydid, but til in to þis day, whanne Moyſes is radd, þe veyl is putt vpon her hertis. Forſoþ whanne Iſrael ſchal be conuertid to God, þe veyl ſchal be don awey. Forſoþ þe Lord is ſpirit; forſoþ where is þe ſpirit of God, þere is liberte.

Forſoþ alle we wiþ ſchewid face biholdinge þe glorie of þe Lord, ben transformyd into þe ſame ymage, fro clereneſſe into clereneſſe, as of þe ſpirit of þe Lord.