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Text critical issues=minor/spelling Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) We might be oppressed but we won’t be crushed, perplexed but we won’t despair,![]()
OET-LV in everything being_oppressed, but not being_crushed, perplexing, but not despairing,![]()
SR-GNT ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι, ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι, ‡
(en panti thlibomenoi, allʼ ou stenoⱪōroumenoi, aporoumenoi, allʼ ouk exaporoumenoi,)
Key: khaki:verbs, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT in every side being pressed in, but not being crushed; being perplexed, but not despairing;
UST We experience many difficult things. People persecute us, but they do not overcome us. We are not sure what to do, but we do not give up.
BSB We are hard pressed on all [sides], but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
MSB We are hard pressed on all [sides], but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
BLB being hard pressed in every way but not being crushed, being perplexed but not despairing,
AICNT being pressed in every way but not crushed, being perplexed but not in despair,
OEB Though hard pressed on every side, we are never hemmed in; though perplexed, never driven to despair;
WEBBE We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;
WMBB (Same as above)
NET We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair;
LSV being in tribulation in every [way], but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
FBV We are attacked from every direction, but we are not crushed. We are at a loss as to what to do, but never in despair.
TCNT We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
T4T We are continually oppressed {People continually oppress us} in many ways, but we have not been prevented {God has not allowed them to prevent us} from teaching the message about Jesus Christ. We often do not know what to do in difficult situations, but we never say, “God has abandoned us.”
LEB We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
BBE Troubles are round us on every side, but we are not shut in; things are hard for us, but we see a way out of them;
Moff on every side I am harried but not hemmed in, perplexed but not despairing,
Wymth We are hard pressed, yet never in absolute distress; perplexed, yet never utterly baffled;
ASV we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;
DRA In all things we suffer tribulation, but are not distressed; we are straitened, but are not destitute;
YLT on every side being in tribulation, but not straitened; perplexed, but not in despair;
Drby every way afflicted, but not straitened; seeing no apparent issue, but our way not entirely shut up;
RV we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;
(we are pressed on every side, yet not straightened; perplexed, yet not unto despair; )
SLT Being pressed in every thing, but not straightened; being at a loss, but not utterly perplexed;
Wbstr We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
KJB-1769 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
KJB-1611 Wee are troubled on euery side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but [fn]not in despaire,
(We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despaire,)
4:8 Or, not altogether without help or meanes.
Bshps We are troubled on euery syde, yet are we not without shyft. We are in pouertie, but not vtterly without somewhat.
(We are troubled on every side, yet are we not without shyft. We are in poverty, but not utterly without somewhat.)
Gnva Wee are afflicted on euery side, yet are we not in distresse: we are in doubt, but yet wee despaire not.
(We are afflicted on every side, yet are we not in distress: we are in doubt, but yet we despair not. )
Cvdl We are troubled on euery syde, yet are we not without shift. We are in pouertie, but not vtterly without somwhat.
(We are troubled on every side, yet are we not without shift. We are in poverty, but not utterly without somewhat.)
TNT We are troubled on every side yet are we not with out shyft. We are in povertie: but not vtterly without somwhat.
(We are troubled on every side yet are we not with out shyft. We are in povertie: but not utterly without somewhat. )
Wycl In alle thingis we suffren tribulacioun, but we ben not angwischid, or annoyed; we ben maad pore, but `we lacken nothing; we suffren persecucioun,
(In all things we suffering tribulation, but we been not anguished, or annoyed; we been made pore, but we lacken nothing; we suffering persecution,)
Luth Wir haben allenthalben Trübsal, aber wir ängsten uns nicht; uns ist bange, aber wir verzagen nicht;
(We have everywhere gloom/sorrow/afflictions, but we/us fears(v) us/to_us/ourselves not; us/to_us/ourselves is afraid, but we/us despair not;)
ClVg In omnibus tribulationem patimur, sed non angustiamur: aporiamur, sed non destituimur:
(In to_all tribulationm patimur, but not/no distressmur: aporiamur, but not/no destituimur: )
UGNT ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλ’ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι; ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι;
(en panti thlibomenoi, all’ ou stenoⱪōroumenoi; aporoumenoi, all’ ouk exaporoumenoi;)
SBL-GNT ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι ἀλλʼ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι, ἀπορούμενοι ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι,
(en panti thlibomenoi allʼ ou stenoⱪōroumenoi, aporoumenoi allʼ ouk exaporoumenoi,)
RP-GNT ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλ' οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι· ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι·
(en panti thlibomenoi, all' ou stenoⱪōroumenoi; aporoumenoi, all' ouk exaporoumenoi;)
TC-GNT ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλ᾽ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι· ἀπορούμενοι, ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι·
(en panti thlibomenoi, all ou stenoⱪōroumenoi; aporoumenoi, all ouk exaporoumenoi; )
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, orange:accents differ, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).
In this section, Paul continued to speak of the difficulties that he and the other evangelists encountered as they did the work of the new covenant. He referred to their bodies as jars of clay (4:7a), which are easily shattered. He said this to show that our human nature is weak and easily fails as we follow God. But Paul was also encouraged that God enabled him to do the work of the new covenant in spite of great difficulties (4:7b–9).
He wrote that he and the other evangelists experienced things similar to what Jesus experienced before he died, but those experiences showed to other people how Jesus lived (4:10–11). He wrote that the believers experienced the good effects of Jesus’ life (4:12). He supported his ministry of preaching with a quote from the Old Testament (4:13), and he explained the promise there (4:14). He wrote that their ministry benefited the believers in Corinth and others as well (4:15).
Lastly, Paul wrote how they continue in spite of the difficulties (4:16–18).
Other examples of headings for this section are:
Spiritual Treasure in Clay Jars (NCV)
Even though our bodies are weak, God gives us strength to tell the gospel
A glorious, powerful message taught by weak messengers
In these verses Paul gave examples of the ways in which he and the other evangelists were weak, but God repeatedly gave them the power to continue. The BSB uses the present tense to indicate that these clauses are general examples. Translate in a way that indicates that these clauses are general examples. They were not experiences that only happened once.
We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed;
All kinds of hardships/troubles come/press against us(excl), but we are not overwhelmed/conquered;
For example, although we undergo/experience difficulties/suffering in all kinds of ways, they do not crush/defeat us.
We are hard pressed In some languages it may be helpful to begin this section with a phrase indicating that Paul is giving examples:
For example, we are hard pressed
The Greek verb that the BSB translates as We are hard pressed refers to both the outward trouble a person experiences and the suffering a person experiences from that trouble. The Greek word includes people oppressing Paul and the others but refers also to any kind of difficulty or hardship. Other ways to translate this word are:
We experience trouble/oppression
We undergo hardships/suffering
See how you translated this Greek word (“are afflicted”) in 1:6.
on all sides: The Greek phrase is literally “in every (way).” Paul and the others experienced all kinds of oppression and hardship. For example:
every kind of hardship (NJB)
but not crushed: The words “we are” are implied from 4:8a but are not repeated here. In some languages it is more natural to repeat those words. For example:
but we are not crushed
crushed: This word refers figuratively to being overwhelmed by the oppression or hardship (4:8a). In some languages it is more natural to translate the meaning without the metaphor. For example:
defeated (NCV)
overwhelmed
perplexed, but not in despair;
and we are bewildered, but we are never overwhelmed by sorrow/woe.
Although we often do not know what to do about what is happening, we never lose all hope.
perplexed: This word means “uncertain.” Paul and the others with him sometimes did not know what was happening and therefore did not know what to do. The words “we are” are implied from 4:8a but are not repeated here. Other ways to translate this word are:
uncertain about what is happening
we are puzzled (JBP)
bewildered (REB)
We do not know what to do (NCV)
We are often troubled and say to ourselves, “What shall we do now?”
in despair: A person may have a hardship or trouble. The word despair refers to that person having extreme sadness and seeing no way to do anything about the hardship or trouble. He no longer tries to do anything about it and no longer expects others to help him. Other ways to translate this word are:
completely dejected
despondent
lose all hope
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλ’ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι; ἀπορούμενοι
in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐν παντί θλιβόμενοι ἀλλʼ οὒ στενοχωρούμενοι ἀπορούμενοι ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι)
If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you must state who does the actions, you could use indefinite subjects. Alternate translation: [in every side someone pressing us in, but not crushing us; feeling perplexed]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / infostructure
ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι
in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐν παντί θλιβόμενοι ἀλλʼ οὒ στενοχωρούμενοι ἀπορούμενοι ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι)
Here, the phrase in every side could go with: (1) all the statements in this verse and the following verse. Alternate translation: [in every situation experiencing these things: being pressed in] (2) just the first statement about being pressed in, but not being crushed. Alternate translation: [being pressed in on every side]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
ἐν παντὶ
in (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐν παντί θλιβόμενοι ἀλλʼ οὒ στενοχωρούμενοι ἀπορούμενοι ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι)
Here, the word every indicates that what Paul is about to describe happens often or in many situations. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make this idea more explicit. Alternate translation: [in every situation] or [at many times]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
θλιβόμενοι, ἀλλ’ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι
˓being˒_oppressed but (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ἐν παντί θλιβόμενοι ἀλλʼ οὒ στενοχωρούμενοι ἀπορούμενοι ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι)
Here Paul speaks as if he and his fellow workers were physically being pressed in by other people but not being crushed by them. He speaks in this way to indicate that other people are making his life difficult or trying to hurt him, but they are not fully succeeding. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a comparable figure of speech or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [being pushed, but not being knocked over] or [being mistreated, but not being harmed]