| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. | 1For we know that if our temporary, earthly dwelling is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. |
| 2For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: | 2Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring to put on our dwelling from heaven, |
| 3If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. | 3since, when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. |
| 4For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. | 4Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. |
| 5Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. | 5And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. |
| 6Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: | 6So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. |
| 7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) | 7For we walk by faith, not by sight, |
| 8We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. | 8and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. |
| 9Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. | 9Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him. |
| 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. | 10For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless. |
| 11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. | 11Therefore, because we know the fear of the Lord, we seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well. |
| 12For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. | 12We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who take pride in the outward appearance rather than in the heart. |
| 13For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. | 13For if we are out of our mind, it is for God; if we have a sound mind, it is for you. |
| 14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: | 14For Christ's love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died. |
| 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. | 15And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised. |
| 16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. | 16From now on, then, we do not know anyone in a purely human way. Even if we have known Christ in a purely human way, yet now we no longer know Him in this way. |
| 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. | 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. |
| 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; | 18Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: |
| 19To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. | 19That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us. |
| 20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. | 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ's behalf, "Be reconciled to God." |
| 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. | 21He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. |
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