| 1 | For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. |
| 2 | For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven: |
| 3 | if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. |
| 4 | For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life. |
| 5 | Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit. |
| 6 | Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord |
| 7 | (for we walk by faith, not by sight); |
| 8 | we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. |
| 9 | Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him. |
| 10 | For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things [done] in the body, according to what he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad. |
| 11 | Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. |
| 12 | We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but [speak] as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart. |
| 13 | For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you. |
| 14 | For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; |
| 15 | and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again. |
| 16 | Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know [him so] no more. |
| 17 | Wherefore if any man is in Christ, [he is] a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new. |
| 18 | But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation; |
| 19 | to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation. |
| 20 | We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech [you] on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God. |
| 21 | Him who knew no sin he made [to be] sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him. |
