New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
1 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
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We know that the earthly tent we live in will be destroyed. But we have a building made by God. It is a house in heaven that lasts forever. Human hands did not build it.
2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,
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During our time on earth we groan. We long to put on our house in heaven as if it were clothing.
3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
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Then we will not be naked.
4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
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While we live in this tent of ours, we groan under our heavy load. We don't want to be naked. We want to be dressed with our house in heaven. What must die will be swallowed up by life.
5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
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God has made us for that very purpose. He has given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment. The Spirit makes us sure of what is still to come.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
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So here is what we can always be certain about. As long as we are at home in our bodies, we are away from the Lord.
7 For we live by faith, not by sight.
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We live by believing, not by seeing.
8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
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We are certain about that. We would rather be away from our bodies and at home with the Lord.
9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.
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So we try our best to please him. We want to please him whether we are at home in our bodies or away from them.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
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We must all stand in front of Christ to be judged. Each one of us will be judged for the good things and the bad things we do while we are in our bodies. Then each of us will receive what we are supposed to get.
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
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We know what it means to have respect for the Lord. So we try to help other people to understand it. What we are is plain to God. I hope it is also plain to your way of thinking.
12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
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We are not trying to make an appeal to you again. But we are giving you a chance to take pride in us. Then you can answer those who take pride in how people look rather than in what is really in their hearts.
13 If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
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Are we out of our minds? That is because we want to serve God. Does what we say make sense? That is because we want to serve you.
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
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Christ's love controls us. We are sure that one person died for everyone. And so everyone died.
15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
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Christ died for everyone. He died so that those who live should not live for themselves anymore. They should live for Christ. He died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.
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So from now on we don't look at anyone the way the world does. At one time we looked at Christ in that way. But we don't anymore.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
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Anyone who believes in Christ is a new creation. The old is gone! The new has come!
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
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It is all from God. He brought us back to himself through Christ's death on the cross. And he has given us the task of bringing others back to him through Christ.
19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
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God was bringing the world back to himself through Christ. He did not hold people's sins against them. God has trusted us with the message that people may be brought back to him.
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
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So we are Christ's official messengers. It is as if God were making his appeal through us. Here is what Christ wants us to beg you to do. Come back to God!
21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
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Christ didn't have any sin. But God made him become sin for us. So we can be made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.