Spiritual Treasure in Clay Pots

Yet we who have this spiritual treasure

are like common clay pots,

in order to show that the supreme power

belongs to God, not to us.

We are often troubled,

but not crushed; sometimes in doubt,

but never in despair; there are many enemies,

but we are never without a friend;

and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed.

At all times we carry

in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, 

so that his life

also may be seen in our bodies.

Throughout our lives we are always in danger

in this mortal body of ours.

This means that death is at work in us,

but life is at work in you.