2 Corinthians 5

1 We know that when this earthly “tent” we live in is taken down, we have a house prepared by God, not made by human hands. It is eternal and is in heaven. (aiōnios g166)

For we know that if our earthly tabernacle house be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (aiōnios g166)

2 We sigh with longing for this, wanting so badly to be clothed with this new heavenly home.

For indeed in this we groan, ardently desiring to have put on our house which [is] from heaven;

3 When we put on this clothing we won't be seen naked.

if indeed being also clothed we shall not be found naked.

4 While we are in this “tent” we sigh, being weighed down by this life. It's not so much that we want to take off the clothing of this life but that we look forward to what we shall be clothed with, so that what is mortal may be overwhelmed by life.

For indeed we who are in the tabernacle groan, being burdened; while yet we do not wish to be unclothed, but clothed, that [what is] mortal may be swallowed up by life.

5 It's God himself who prepared us for all this, and who provided the Spirit as a guarantee to us.

Now he that has wrought us for this very thing [is] God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit.

6 So we remain confident, knowing that while we are at home here in our physical bodies, we are away from the Lord.

Therefore [we are] always confident, and know that while present in the body we are absent from the Lord,

7 (For we live by trusting in God, not by seeing him.)

(for we walk by faith, not by sight; )

8 As I say, we are confident, wanting to be away from the body so we can be at home with the Lord.

we are confident, I say, and pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord.

9 That's why our goal, whether home here in our bodies or not, is to make sure we please him.

Wherefore also we are zealous, whether present or absent, to be agreeable to him.

10 For all of us must appear before Christ's seat of judgment. Each of us will receive what we deserve for what we have done in this life, whether it is good or bad.

For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of the Christ, that each may receive the things [done] in the body, according to those he has done, whether [it be] good or evil.

11 Knowing how we are in awe of the Lord, we try to convince others. It's clear to God what we are, and I hope that it's clear to your minds too.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men, but have been manifested to God, and I hope also that we have been manifested in your consciences.

12 We are not trying to speak well of ourselves again, just trying to give you the opportunity to be proud of us, so you can answer those who are proud of outward show and not what they are inside.

[For] we do not again commend ourselves to you, but [we are] giving to you occasion of boast in our behalf, that ye may have [such] with those boasting in countenance, and not in heart.

13 If we are “crazy people,” it's for God. If we make good sense, it's for you.

For whether we are beside ourselves, [it is] to God; or are sober, [it is] for you.

14 Christ's love urges us on, because we're absolutely sure that he died for everyone, and so everyone died.

For the love of the Christ constrains us, having judged this: that one died for all, then all have died;

15 Christ died for everyone so that they shouldn't live any longer for themselves, but for him who died and rose again for them.

and he died for all, that they who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for them and has been raised.

16 From now on we don't look at anyone from a human point of view. Even though we once viewed Christ this way, we don't do so any longer.

So that we henceforth know no one according to flesh; but if even we have known Christ according to flesh, yet now we know [him thus] no longer.

17 That's why anyone who is in Christ is a new being—what was old is gone, the new has come!

So if any one [be] in Christ, [there is] a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new:

18 God did all this by changing us from enemies into friends through Christ. God gave us this same work of changing his enemies into his friends.

and all things [are] of the God who has reconciled us to himself by [Jesus] Christ, and given to us the ministry of that reconciliation:

19 For God was in Christ bringing the world back from hostility to friendship with him, not counting anyone's sins against them, and giving us this message to change his enemies into his friends.

how that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their offences; and putting in us the word of that reconciliation.

20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God is pleading through us: “Please, won't you come back and be God's friend?”

We are ambassadors therefore for Christ, God as [it were] beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, Be reconciled to God.

21 God made Jesus, who never personally sinned, experience the consequences of sin so that we could have a character that is good and right just as God is good and right.

Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in him.