'For2we know1that3if4the9tent10that isour7earthly6home8is destroyed,11we have15a building12from13God,14a house16not made with hands,17eternal18in19the20heavens.21 For2in3this [tent]4we groan,5longing13to put on12our8heavenly1011dwelling,7 if1indeed2by putting it on4we may7not5be found7naked.6 For2while we are still4in5this6tent,7we groan,8being burdened9— not12that11we would13be unclothed,14but15that we wouldbe further clothed,16so that17what19ismortal20may be swallowed up18by21life.23 He1who has prepared3us4for5this7very thing6isGod,8who has given10us11the14Spirit15as a14guarantee.13 So2we arealways3of good courage.1Weknow5that6while we are at home7in8the9body10we are away11from12the13Lord,14 for3we walk4by1faith,2not5by6sight.7 Yes,2we are of good courage,1and3we would4rather5be away6from7the8body9and10at home11with12the13Lord.14 So1whether4we areat home5or6away,7we make it our aim3to please810him.9 For2we4must6all3appear5before7the8judgment seat9of Christ,11so that12each one14may receive13what [is due]15for19what20he has done21in16the17body,18whether22good23or24evil.25 Therefore,2knowing1the3fear4of the5Lord,6we persuade8[others].7But10whatwe are is known11to God,9and13I hope12it is known19also14to15your18conscience.17 We are4not1commending4ourselves3to you5again2but6giving8you9cause7to boast10about11us,12so that13you may be able14to [answer]15those16who boast19about17outward appearance18and20not21about what isin22the heart.23 For2if1we are beside ourselves,3it isfor God;4if5we are in our right mind,6it isfor you.7 For2the1love3of Christ5controls6us,7because we haveconcluded8this:9that10one11has died14for12all,13therefore15all17have died;18 and1he died4for2all,3that5those6who live7might10no longer8live10for themselves9but11for him12who15for13their14sake13died15and16was raised.17 From3now on,5therefore,1we2regard7no one6according to8the flesh.9Even11though10we once regarded12Christ15according to13the flesh,14we regard19himthus17no longer.18 Therefore,1if2anyone3isin4Christ,5he isa new6creation.7The8old9has passed away;10behold,11thenew13has come.12 All3this1isfrom4God,6who8through11Christ12reconciled8us9to himself10and13gave14us15the16ministry17of reconciliation;19 that is,12in5Christ6God3was4reconciling8the world7to himself,9not10counting11their15trespasses14against them,12and16entrusting17to18us19the20message21of reconciliation.23 Therefore,3we are ambassadors4for1Christ,2God7making his appeal8through9us.10We implore11youon behalf of12Christ,13be reconciled14to God.16 For5our6sake5he made8him1to besin7who knew3no2sin,4so that9in14him15we10might become11the righteousness12of God.13