New International Version NIV
New King James Version NKJV
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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For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,
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For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
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if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found 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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For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may 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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Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
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 we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord.
7 For we live by faith, not by sight.
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For we walk by faith, not by sight.
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 confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present 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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Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.
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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For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
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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Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
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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For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
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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For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for 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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For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all 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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and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose 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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Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
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Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
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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that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
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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Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled 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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For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.