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¹ For we know that, if our house on earth-this of the body, were dissolved, yet we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven.² And on this account also, we groan, and wish to be clothed with our house from heaven:³ if indeed, when clothed, we shall not be found naked.⁴ For while we are here in this house, we groan under its burden; yet ye desire, not to throw it off; but to be clothed over it, so that its mortality may be absorbed in life.⁵ And he that prepareth us for this thing, is God: who hath given us the earnest of his Spirit.⁶ Therefore, because we know and are persuaded, that while we lodge in the body we sojourn away from our Lord;⁷ (for we walk by faith, and not by sight;)⁸ therefore we are confident, and desirous to be away from the body, and to be with our Lord.⁹ We are assiduous, that whether we are absent, or whether at home, we may please him.¹⁰ 10 For we are all to stand before the judgment-seat of the Messiah, that each may receive retribution in the body, [fn] what he hath done in it, whether of good, or whether of evil. ¹¹ Therefore because we know the fear of our Lord we persuade men; and we are made manifest unto God; and I hope also, we are made manifest to your minds.

¹² We do not again laud ourselves to you; but we give you occasion to glory in us, to them who glory in appearance and not in heart.¹³ For if we are extravagant, it is for God: and if we are discreet, it is for you.¹⁴ For the love of the Messiah constraineth us to reason thus: One died for all; therefore are all dead.¹⁵ And he died for all, that they who live should not live to themselves, but to him who died for them and rose again.

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