| English Standard Version | Holman Christian Standard 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 temporary, earthly dwelling is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. |
| 2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, | 2Indeed, we groan in this body, desiring to put on our dwelling from heaven, |
| 3if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. | 3since, when we are clothed, 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. | 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. |
| 5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. | 5And 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, | 6So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. |
| 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. | 7For we walk 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. | 8and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. |
| 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please 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, 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 tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless. |
| 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 seek to persuade people. We are completely open before God, and I hope we are completely open to your consciences as well. |
| 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 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 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 mind, it is for God; if we have a 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 Christ's love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all 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 the One 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. | 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 anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. | 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come. |
| 18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; | 18Everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave 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. | 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. |
| 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, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead 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. | 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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