Truthful speech is literally “in a word of truth.” The sense may be that what Paul says is honest and trustworthy, that is, his speech is truthful (Revised Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version). But it is also possible to understand these words as parallel to the power of God, in which case “the word of truth” refers to the gospel message (so Good News Translation). In support of the Good News Bible translation, see Col 1.5, where “the word of the truth” is called “the gospel.” In languages that require separate sentences for each item in Paul’s list, one may wish to say here “we proclaim the true message” or something similar.
The power of God: this may be rendered “we act by the power of God” or “God’s power works in us.”
Weapons of righteousness: there are three possible interpretations of these words: (1) “weapons for the defense of righteousness,” where righteousness is a synonym for “the gospel”; (2) “weapons that we have because we have been made righteous”; the sense is then that Christians have been given the moral qualities that come as a result of having been made righteous by God; and (3) “righteousness as our weapon” (Good News Translation, and apparently most translations). Most interpreters favor this third interpretation.
For the right hand and for the left: the precise sense of these words is debated. According to a widely accepted view, the right hand represents the hand used for offense, that is, for attacking with a sword or spear; and the left hand represents the hand used for defense, that is, for protecting oneself with a shield (so Good News Translation, Bible en français courant, New Jerusalem Bible, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente, Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente). Another view sees the mention of both hands as a more general way of emphasizing the idea of being completely equipped.
If the interpretation followed by Good News Translation is accepted, translators should recognize that this is figurative language. Paul is not talking about attacking and defending oneself in a physical sense. Barclay captures the sense well: “Goodness has been our armour both to commend and to defend the faith.” New Century Version says “We use our right living to defend ourselves against everything.”
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .