1. For we know that if the tent, our earthly home, is torn down, we have a building from God—a home not made with human hands, eternal in the heavens.
2. For in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling—
3. if indeed, after we have put it on, we will not be found naked.
4. For we groan while we are in this tent—burdened because we don’t want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5. Now the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Ruach as a pledge.
6. Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord.
7. For we walk by faith, not by sight.
8. We are confident, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and at home with the Lord.
9. So whether at home or absent, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.
10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, so that each one may receive what is due for the things he did while in the body—whether good or bad.
11. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we are trying to persuade people, but what we are is known to God—and I hope it is known to your consciences as well.
12. For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity for boasting about us, so that you may have something to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart.