Our Heavenly Dwelling
1 For we know that if the stent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a thouse not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we ugroan, longing vto put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on1 we may not be found naked. 4 For 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. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a wguarantee.2
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for xwe walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and ywe would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For zwe must all appear before the ajudgment seat of Christ, so that beach one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
11 Therefore, knowing the cfear of the Lord, we persuade others. But dwhat we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 eWe are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause fto boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward gappearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For hif we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died ifor all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for jall, that those who live might kno longer live for themselves but lfor him who for their sake died and was raised.
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one maccording to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a nnew creation.3 oThe old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ preconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling4 the world to himself, not qcounting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are rambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake she made him to be sin twho knew no sin, uso that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God vin vain. 2 For he says,
w“In a favorable time I listened to you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, xnow is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We put no yobstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4 but as servants of God zwe commend ourselves in every way: aby great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the bpower of God; with the cweapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as ddying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet ealways rejoicing; as poor, yet making many frich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
11 We have spoken freely to you,5 Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but gyou are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.
The Temple of the Living God
14 Do not be hunequally yoked with unbelievers. For iwhat partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or jwhat fellowship has light with darkness? 15 kWhat accord has Christ with Belial?6 Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For lwe are the temple of the living God; as God said,
m“I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore ngo out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and oI will be a father to you,
and you shall be psons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
Book One
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
who walks not in the bcounsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his cdelight is in the law2 of the Lord,
and on his law he dmeditates day and night.
3 eHe is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that fyields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he gprospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for hthe Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
