1 FOR we know that, if our earthly house of the tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven;
3 seeing that we shall be found clothed, not naked.
4 For we who are in the tabernacle groan, being burdened; in that we do not desire to be unclothed, but to be clothed upon, that what is mortal might be swallowed up by life.
5 Now he who wrought us out for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Being therefore always confident, and knowing that while at home in the body we are absent from the Lord,
7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight),
8 we are confident, and are well pleased rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we also strive, that, whether at home or absent, we may be well pleasing to 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 the things which he did, whether good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but to God we have been made manifest, and I hope that we have been made manifest also in your consciences.
12 For we are not again commending ourselves to you, but giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer those who glory in appearance and not in heart.
13 For whether we were beside ourselves, it was for God; or whether we are of sound mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judged, that if one died for all, then they all died.
15 And he died for all, that they who live should live no longer to themselves, but to him who for them died and rose again.
16 So that we henceforth know no one according to the flesh; and if also we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we no longer know him.
17 So that if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18 And all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 as that God was in Christ reconciling a world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 We are then ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were beseeching by us; on behalf of Christ we pray: Be reconciled to God!
21 Him who knew not sin he made to be sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in him.
