2 Corinthians 5 — American Standard Version

For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.● For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:● if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.● For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.● Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit.● Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord● (for we walk by faith, not by sight);● we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord.● Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.● For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things `done' in the body, according to what he hath done, whether `it be' good or bad.● Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.● We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but `speak' as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.● For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.● For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;● and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.● Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know `him so' no more.● Wherefore if any man is in Christ, `he is' a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.● But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;● to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.● We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech `you' on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.● Him who knew no sin he made `to be' sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.●