^{1 Ref} For we are conscious that if this our tent of flesh is taken down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in heaven.

^{2 Ref} For in this we are crying in weariness, greatly desiring to be clothed with our house from heaven:

^{3 Ref} So that our spirits may not be unclothed.

^{4 Ref} For truly, we who are in this tent do give out cries of weariness, for the weight of care which is on us; not because we are desiring to be free from the body, but so that we may have our new body, and death may be overcome by life.

^{5 Ref} Now he who has made us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a witness of what is to come.

^{6 Ref} So, then, we are ever without fear, and though conscious that while we are in the body we are away from the Lord,

^{7 Ref} (For we are walking by faith, not by seeing,)

^{8 Ref} We are without fear, desiring to be free from the body, and to be with the Lord.

^{9 Ref} For this reason we make it our purpose, in the body or away from it, to be well-pleasing to him.

^{10 Ref} For we all have to come before Christ to be judged; so that every one of us may get his reward for the things done in the body, good or bad.

^{11 Ref} Having in mind, then, the fear of the Lord, we put these things before men, but God sees our hearts; and it is my hope that we may seem right in your eyes.

^{12 Ref} We are not again requesting your approval, but we are giving you the chance of taking pride in us, so that you may be able to give an answer to those whose glory is in seeming, and not in the heart.

^{13 Ref} For if we are foolish, it is to God; or if we are serious, it is for you.

^{14 Ref} For it is the love of Christ which is moving us; because we are of the opinion that if one was put to death for all, then all have undergone death;

^{15 Ref} And that he underwent death for all, so that the living might no longer be living to themselves, but to him who underwent death for them and came back from the dead.

^{16 Ref} For this reason, from this time forward we have knowledge of no man after the flesh: even if we have had knowledge of Christ after the flesh, we have no longer any such knowledge.

^{17 Ref} So if any man is in Christ, he is in a new world: the old things have come to an end; they have truly become new.

^{18 Ref} But all things are of God, who has made us at peace with himself through Christ, and has given to us the work of making peace;

^{19 Ref} That is, that God was in Christ making peace between the world and himself, not putting their sins to their account, and having given to us the preaching of this news of peace.

^{20 Ref} So we are the representatives of Christ, as if God was making a request to you through us: we make our request to you, in the name of Christ, be at peace with God.

^{21 Ref} For him who had no knowledge of sin God made to be sin for us; so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

^{1 Ref} For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.

^{2 Ref} For most assuredly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;

^{3 Ref} if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked.

^{4 Ref} For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

^{5 Ref} Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.

^{6 Ref} Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;

^{7 Ref} for we walk by faith, not by sight.

^{8 Ref} 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 Ref} Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.

^{10 Ref} For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

^{11 Ref} Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.

^{12 Ref} For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart.

^{13 Ref} For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.

^{14 Ref} For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died.

^{15 Ref} He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.

^{16 Ref} Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

^{17 Ref} Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

^{18 Ref} But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;

^{19 Ref} namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.

^{20 Ref} We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us. We beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

^{21 Ref} For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.