¹For we know that if our earthly house of this tent is [fig., our bodies are] torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens. ²For also in this [body] we groan, longing to clothe ourselves with our habitation, the one from heaven. ³If indeed also having clothed ourselves, we will not be found naked. ⁴For the ones being in the tent [fig., who are alive] groan, being burdened, seeing we do not desire to strip ourselves but to clothe ourselves, so that the mortal [body] shall be swallowed up by life. ⁵Now the One having prepared us for this same [thing is] God, the One having given to us the down payment [or, guarantee] of the Spirit.

⁶Therefore, being confident at all times and knowing that being at home in the body we are away from the Lord--⁷for by faith we walk about [fig., conduct ourselves], not by sight--⁸but we are confident and prefer rather to be away from the body and to be at home with the Lord! ⁹And so we ambitiously strive, whether being at home or being away from home, to be acceptable [or, pleasing] to Him. ¹⁰For it is necessary [for] all of us to appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one shall receive the things [done] through the body, according to the [things] which he did, whether good or wicked.

¹¹Knowing, therefore, the fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we have been revealed to God. And I hope [or, confidently expect] to also have been revealed in your* consciences. ¹²For we are not commending ourselves again to you, but we are giving an opportunity to you* of boasting on our behalf, so that you* shall have [an answer] for the ones boasting in appearance and not in heart. ¹³For if we were out of [our] senses, [it was] for God; if we are of sound mind, [it is] for you*. ¹⁴For the love of Christ compels us, having judged [or, concluded] this: that since One died on behalf of all, consequently, these all died. ¹⁵And He died on behalf of all, so that the ones living should no longer be living to themselves, but to the One having died and having been raised on behalf of them.

¹⁶Therefore, from now on we know no one according to [the] flesh; and even if we have known Christ according to [the] flesh, but now no longer do we know [Him thus]. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; the old [things] passed away, look!, all [things] have become new! [cp. Gal 6:15] ¹⁸And all these [things are] of God, the One having reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and having given to us the ministry of that reconciliation, ¹⁹how that God was in Christ reconciling [the] world to Himself, not imputing their transgressions to them and having put in [or, having committed to] us the word of that reconciliation.

²⁰Therefore, we serve as ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God [were] appealing through us: we implore [you*] on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God! ²¹For the One not having known sin, He made sin on our behalf, so that we shall become [the] righteousness of God in Him.