The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
King James Version KJV
1 We know that when the tent which houses us here on earth is torn down, we have a permanent building from God, a building not made by human hands, to house us in heaven.
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For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this tent, our earthly body, we groan with desire to have around us the home from heaven that will be ours.
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For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
3 With this around us we will not be found naked.
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If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 Yes, while we are in this body, we groan with the sense of being oppressed: it is not so much that we want to take something off, but rather to put something on over it; so that what must die may be swallowed up by the Life.
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For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Moreover, it is God who has prepared us for this very thing, and as a pledge he has given us his Spirit.
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Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 So we are always confident - we know that so long as we are at home in the body, we are away from our home with the Lord;
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Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 for we live by trust, not by what we see.
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(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, then, and would much prefer to leave our home in the body and come to our home with the Lord.
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We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Therefore, whether at home or away from home, we try our utmost to please him;
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Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 for we must all appear before the Messiah's court of judgment, where everyone will receive the good or bad consequences of what he did while he was in the body.
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For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 So it is with the fear of the Lord before us that we try to persuade people. Moreover, God knows us as we really are; and I hope that in your consciences you too know us as we really are.
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Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
12 We are not recommending ourselves to you again but giving you a reason to be proud of us, so that you will be able to answer those who boast about a person's appearance rather than his inner qualities.
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For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
13 If we are insane, it is for God's sake; and if we are sane, it is for your sake.
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For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
14 For the Messiah's love has hold of us, because we are convinced that one man died on behalf of all mankind (which implies that all mankind was already dead),
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For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
15 and that he died on behalf of all in order that those who live should not live any longer for themselves but for the one who on their behalf died and was raised.
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And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 So from now on, we do not look at anyone from a worldly viewpoint. Even if we once regarded the Messiah from a worldly viewpoint, we do so no longer.
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Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore, if anyone is united with the Messiah, he is a new creation - the old has passed; look, what has come is fresh and new!
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Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And it is all from God, who through the Messiah has reconciled us to himself and has given us the work of that reconciliation,
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And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 which is that God in the Messiah was reconciling mankind to himself, not counting their sins against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
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To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, "Be reconciled to God!
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Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God's righteousness."
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For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
The King James Version is in the public domain.