5. There is nothing in us that allows us to claim that we are capable of doing this work. The capacity we have comes from God;
6. it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant, which consists not of a written law but of the Spirit. The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life.
7. The Law was carved in letters on stone tablets, and God's glory appeared when it was given. Even though the brightness on Moses' face was fading, it was so strong that the people of Israel could not keep their eyes fixed on him. If the Law, which brings death when it is in force, came with such glory,
8. how much greater is the glory that belongs to the activity of the Spirit!
9. The system which brings condemnation was glorious; how much more glorious is the activity which brings salvation!
10. We may say that because of the far brighter glory now the glory that was so bright in the past is gone.
11. For if there was glory in that which lasted for a while, how much more glory is there in that which lasts for ever!
12. Because we have this hope, we are very bold.
13. We are not like Moses, who had to put a veil over his face so that the people of Israel would not see the brightness fade and disappear.
14. Their minds, indeed, were closed; and to this very day their minds are covered with the same veil as they read the books of the old covenant. The veil is removed only when a person is joined to Christ.