¹⁷ Since you call on a Father^(A) who judges each person’s work^(B) impartially,^(C) live out your time as foreigners^(D) here in reverent fear.^{(E) 18} For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed^(F) from the empty way of life^(G) handed down to you from your ancestors, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood^(H) of Christ, a lamb^(I) without blemish or defect.^{(J) 20} He was chosen before the creation of the world,^(K) but was revealed in these last times^(L) for your sake.

The Judgment of the Dead

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne^(A) and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence,^(B) and there was no place for them. ¹² And I saw the dead, great and small,^(C) standing before the throne, and books were opened.^(D) Another book was opened, which is the book of life.^(E) The dead were judged^(F) according to what they had done^(G) as recorded in the books. ¹³ The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades^(H) gave up the dead^(I) that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.^{(J) 14} Then death^(K) and Hades^(L) were thrown into the lake of fire.^(M) The lake of fire is the second death.^{(N) 15} Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life^(O) was thrown into the lake of fire.

⁶ Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. ⁷ For we live by faith, not by sight.^{(A) 8} We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.^{(B) 9} So we make it our goal to please him,^(C) whether we are at home in the body or away from it. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us^(D) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.