| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. | 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. |
| 2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, | 2For in this earthly house we groan, because we desire to put on our heavenly dwelling, |
| 3if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. | 3if indeed, after we have put on our heavenly house, we will not be found naked. |
| 4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. | 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. |
| 5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. | 5Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. |
| 6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, | 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-- |
| 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. | 7for we live by faith, not by sight. |
| 8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. | 8Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. |
| 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. | 9So then whether we are alive or away, we make it our ambition to please him. |
| 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. | 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. |
| 11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. | 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. |
| 12We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. | 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. |
| 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. | 13For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. |
| 14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; | 14For the love of Christ controls us, since we have concluded this, that Christ died for all; therefore all have died. |
| 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. | 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. |
| 16From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. | 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. |
| 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. | 17So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away--look, what is new has come! |
| 18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; | 18And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. |
| 19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message 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. |
| 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. | 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!" |
| 21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of 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. |
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