1For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 2For truly in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven: 3if indeed being clothed we shall not be found naked. 4For indeed we who are in this tabernacle groan, being burdened; not because we want to be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now he who prepared us for this very thing is God, who gave to us the pledge of the Spirit. 6Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord 7(for we walk by faith, not by sight); 8we are of good courage, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. 9Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing to him. 10For we must all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Messiah; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether it is good or bad. 11Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences. 12We are not again commending ourselves to you, but speak as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who glory in appearance, and not in heart. 13For whether we are beside ourselves, it is to God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is to you. 14For the love of Messiah constrains us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15and he died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again. 16Therefore from now on we know no man according to the flesh: even though we have known Messiah according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 17Therefore if any man is in Messiah, he is a new creature: the old things have passed away; behold, they have become new. 18But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Messiah, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19that is, that God was in Messiah reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Messiah, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Messiah, be reconciled to God. 21Him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; that we might become the righteousness of God in him.