¹ For 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.

² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:

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

⁴ For 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.

⁵ Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.

⁶ Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst 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 willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

⁹ Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

¹⁰ For 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.

¹¹ Knowing 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.

¹² For 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.

¹³ For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

¹⁴ For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

¹⁵ And 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.

¹⁶ Wherefore 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.

¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

¹⁹ To 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.

²⁰ Now 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.

²¹ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

¹ I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called,

² with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love;

³ being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

⁴ There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling;

⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all.

⁷ But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

⁸ Therefore he says, "When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men."

⁹ Now this, "He ascended," what is it but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?

¹⁰ He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.

¹¹ He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;

¹² for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;

¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

¹⁴ that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;

¹⁵ but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ;

¹⁶ from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

¹⁷ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,

¹⁸ being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their hearts;

¹⁹ who having become callous gave themselves up to lust, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

²⁰ But you did not learn Christ that way;

²¹ if indeed you heard him, and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:

²² that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man, that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit;

²³ and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

²⁴ and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

²⁵ Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.

²⁶ "Be angry, and don't sin." Don't let the sun go down on your wrath,

²⁷ neither give place to the devil.

²⁸ Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

²⁹ Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

³⁰ Don't grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.

³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.