2 Corinthians 5

1For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.

1We know that even if our earthly body, which is like a temporary tent, is destroyed, we have a permanent building from God. It is a home in heaven that was not made by human hands, and it lasts forever.

2For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven:

2While we are in this body, we groan because we strongly desire to be dressed in our home from heaven.

3if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.

3When we are dressed in it, we will not be found spiritually naked.

4For indeed we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but that we would be clothed upon, that what is mortal may be swallowed up of life.

4While we live in this temporary tent, we groan because of our heavy burdens. It isn't that we want to be naked without a body, but we want to be clothed with our new body so that our dying bodies will be swallowed up by eternal life.

5Now he that wrought us for this very thing is God, who gave unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

5God is the one who prepared us for this, and he has given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment to guarantee what is coming.

6Being therefore always of good courage, and knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord

6So we are always confident. We know that as long as we live in these bodies, we are away from being at home with the Lord.

7(for we walk by faith, not by sight);

7For we live by what we believe, not by what we see with our eyes.

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.

8We are confident, and we would actually prefer to leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord.

9Wherefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well-pleasing unto him.

9Because of this, our goal is to please him in everything we do, whether we are at home in this body or away from it.

10For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

10For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each person will receive what they deserve for the things they did while in their physical body, whether those things were good or bad.

11Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest unto God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.

11Since we understand what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. God knows us completely, and I hope that in your hearts you know us well, too.

12We are not again commending ourselves unto you, but speak as giving you occasion of glorying on our behalf, that ye may have wherewith to answer them that glory in appearance, and not in heart.

12We are not trying to brag about ourselves to you again. Instead, we are giving you a reason to be proud of us, so you can answer those who care more about how things look on the outside than what is in the heart.

13For whether we are beside ourselves, it is unto God; or whether we are of sober mind, it is unto you.

13If we seem to be out of our minds, it is for God’s sake; if we are in our right minds, it is for your benefit.

14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;

14The love of Christ controls us. We are convinced that since one person died for everyone, then everyone has died.

15and he died for all, that they that live should no longer live unto themselves, but unto him who for their sakes died and rose again.

15He died for everyone so that those who live should no longer live for themselves. Instead, they should live for Christ, who died and was raised to life for them.

16Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh: even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.

16From now on, we don't evaluate anyone by human standards. Even though we once thought of Christ in that way, we don't think of him like that anymore.

17Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old way of life is gone; a new life has begun!

18But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and gave unto us the ministry of reconciliation;

18All of this is from God. He brought us back to himself through Christ and has given us the task of bringing others back to him.

19to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself, not reckoning unto them their trespasses, and having committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

19In other words, God was in Christ bringing the world back to himself. He stopped counting people’s sins against them, and he gave us this message of restoration to share.

20We are ambassadors therefore on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be ye reconciled to God.

20So we are Christ’s ambassadors. It is as if God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead with you: Come back 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.

21God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin. He did this so that through Christ we could be made right with God.