2 Corinthians 5

1 For we know that if this poor tent, our earthly house, is taken down, we have in Heaven a building which God has provided, a house not built by human hands, but eternal. (aiōnios g166)

For I know, if this earthly tent of mine were struck, I have a mansion built by God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (aiōnios g166)

2 For in this one we sigh, because we long to put on over it our dwelling which comes from Heaven--

For in this tent I am groaning, earnestly longing to be under the cover of my heavenly habitation; if so be that being so covered,

3 if indeed having really put on a robe we shall not be found to be unclothed.

I shall not be found naked.

4 Yes, we who are in this tent certainly do sigh under our burdens, for we do not wish to lay aside that with which we are now clothed, but to put on more, so that our mortality may be absorbed in Life.

For in this tent of mine I am groaning in deep trouble; not that I wish to be unclothed, but to be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up in life.

5 And He who formed us with this very end in view is God, who has given us His Spirit as a pledge and foretaste of that bliss.

And He who has wrought me out for this very end is God, who has given me his Spirit as pledge.

6 We have therefore a cheerful confidence. We know that while we are at home in the body we are banished from the Lord;

Therefore I am always of good courage, because I well know that while I am at home in the body, I am in banishment from the Lord,

7 for we are living a life of faith, and not one of sight.

for I am walking by faith, not by sight.

8 So we have a cheerful confidence, and we anticipate with greater delight being banished from the body and going home to the Lord.

So I have good courage, and am well pleased rather, to be in banishment from the body and to be at home with the Lord.

9 And for this reason also we make it our ambition, whether at home or in exile, to please Him perfectly.

And for this reason I also make it home with the Lord.

10 For we must all of us appear before Christ's judgement-seat in our true characters, in order that each may then receive an award for his actions in this life, in accordance with what he has done, whether it be good or whether it be worthless.

For we must all be made manifest, in our true characters, before the Judgment-seat of Christ; so that each one may receive according to that which he has done in his body, whether good or evil.

11 Therefore, because we realize how greatly the Lord is to be feared, we are endeavouring to win men over, and God recognizes what our motives are, and I hope that you, in your hearts, recognize them too.

So, because I know the fear of God, I "persuade men." What I am is manifest to God, and I hope manifest also to your conscience.

12 We are not again commending ourselves to your favour, but are furnishing you with a ground of boasting on our behalf, so that you may have a reply ready for those with whom superficial appearances are everything and sincerity of heart counts for nothing.

I am not "commending myself to you again," but I am giving you an occasion of boasting on my behalf, so that you may have an answer ready for those who boast in externals, and not in the heart.

13 For if we have been beside ourselves, it has been for God's glory; or if we are now in our right senses, it is in order to be of service to you.

For if I was "beside myself," it was to God; of if I am now "of sound mind," it is for you.

14 For the love of Christ overmasters us, the conclusion at which we have arrived being this--that One having died for all, His death was their death,

For the love of Christ overmasters me; because I thus judge that if One has died for all, then all have died;

15 and that He died for all in order that the living may no longer live to themselves, but to Him who died for them and rose again.

and that he died for all in order that the living may live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again for them.

16 Therefore for the future we know no one simply as a man. Even if we have known Christ as a man, yet now we do so no longer.

Therefore henceforth I know no one simply as a man - even if I have known Christ as a man, yet now I do so no longer.

17 So that if any one is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old state of things has passed away; a new state of things has come into existence.

So there is a new creation when any man is in Christ. The old life has passed away, behold, the new is come.

18 And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has appointed us to serve in the ministry of reconciliation.

And all this is from God, who through Christ reconciled me to himself, and gave me the ministry of reconciliation;

19 We are to tell how God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not charging men's transgressions to their account, and that He has entrusted to us the Message of this reconciliation.

how that God was in Christ reconciling a world to himself, not reckoning to men their trespasses; and that to me he has entrusted the message of that reconciliation.

20 On Christ's behalf therefore we come as ambassadors, God, as it were, making entreaty through our lips: we, on Christ's behalf, beseech men to be reconciled to God.

On Christ’s behalf, then, I come as ambassador. It is as though God was entreating you, through me, on Christ’s behalf I beg you to be reconciled to God.

21 He has made Him who knew nothing of sin to be sin for us, in order that in Him we may become the righteousness of God.

Him who knew no sin, in our behalf he has made to be sin; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.