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.