| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in, is dismantled, we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens. | 1For 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. |
| 2For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, | 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, |
| 3if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we will not be found naked. | 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. |
| 4For we groan while we are in this tent, since we are weighed down, because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. | 4For 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. |
| 5Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. | 5Now 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. |
| 6Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth we are absent from the Lord-- | 6Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. |
| 7for we live by faith, not by sight. | 7For we live by faith, not by sight. |
| 8Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. | 8We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. |
| 9So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him. | 9So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. |
| 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil. | 10For 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. |
| 11Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade people, but we are well known to God, and I hope we are well known to your consciences too. | 11Since, 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. |
| 12We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may be able to answer those who take pride in outward appearance and not in what is in the heart. | 12We 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. |
| 13For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. | 13If we are "out of our mind," as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. |
| 14For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. | 14For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. |
| 15And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised. | 15And 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. |
| 16So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer. | 16So 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. |
| 17So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away--look, what is new has come! | 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! |
| 18And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. | 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: |
| 19In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people's trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation. | 19that 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. |
| 20Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His plea through us. We plead with you on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God!" | 20We 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. |
| 21God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God. | 21God 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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