¹¹ The foundation that has already been laid is Jesus Christ, and no one can lay down any other foundation. ¹² But if ·people [anyone; someone] build on that foundation, using gold, silver, ·jewels [precious stones], wood, ·grass [or hay], or straw, ¹³ their work will be ·clearly seen [or shown for what it is], because the ·day of judgment [^Lday] will make it ·visible [clear; obvious]. That day will ·appear [or reveal it; expose it] with fire, and the fire will test everyone’s work to show what sort of work it was. ¹⁴ If the ·building that has been put on the foundation [^Lwork] still stands, the builder will get ·a reward [or wages]. ¹⁵ But if the ·building [^Lwork] is burned up, the builder will ·suffer loss [or be fined; or be punished]. The builder will be saved, but it will be as one who escaped ·from a fire [^Lthrough fire].

¹⁶ Don’t ·you [you all; ^Cthe verb is plural] know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you [^Cjust as God’s presence filled the tabernacle; Ex. 40:34–38]? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person, because God’s temple is holy ·and you are that temple [or and you are holy; ^Lwhich is what you are].

¹⁸ Do not ·fool [deceive] yourselves. If you think you are wise in this ·world [age], you should become a fool so that you can become truly wise,

⁶ Remember this: The person who ·plants a little [sows sparingly] will ·have a small harvest [also reap sparingly], but the person who ·plants a lot [sows generously/bountifully] will ·have a big harvest [also reap generously/bountifully]. ⁷ Each of you should give as you have decided in your heart to give. You should not ·be sad when you give [or give reluctantly], and you should not give ·because you feel forced to give [out of compulsion]. [^LFor] God loves the person who gives ·happily [cheerfully]. ⁸ And God can ·give you more blessings than you need [^Loverflow/abound all grace to you]. Then ·you will always have plenty of everything [^Lin all things at all times you will have all you need]— ·enough to give to [abounding/overflowing in] every good work. ⁹ [^LJust as] It is written in the Scriptures:

¹⁰ [^LFor] God is the One who gives seed to the farmer and bread for food. He will ·give you all the seed you need and make it grow [^Lsupply and multiply your seed] so there will be a great harvest ·from your goodness [of your righteousness]. ¹¹ He will make you rich in every way so that you can always give ·freely [generously]. And your giving through us will ·cause many to give thanks [^Lproduce thanksgiving] to God.

The New Agreement

¹¹ But when Christ came as the high priest of the good things ·we now have^[a] [^Lthat have come], he entered the greater and more perfect ·tent [^Ttabernacle]. It is not made ·by humans [^Lwith hands] and does not belong to this ·world [creation; created order]. ¹² Christ entered the ·Most Holy Place [sanctuary; ^Lholy things; ^THoly of Holies] ·only once—and for all time [^Lonce for all; 7:27; 10:10]. ·He did not take with him [^L…not by means of] the blood of goats and calves. ·His sacrifice was [^L…but by means of] his own blood, and by it he ·set us free from sin forever [^Lobtained/secured eternal redemption/liberation]. ¹³ The blood of goats and bulls [Lev. 16:14–16] and the ashes of a ·cow [young cow; heifer; Num. 19:2, 17–18] are sprinkled on the people who are [^Critually] unclean, and this ·makes their bodies clean again [restores their body to ritual purity]. ¹⁴ How much more is done by the blood of Christ. He offered himself through the eternal ·Spirit [or spirit; ^Cmost likely the Holy Spirit, though possibly Christ’s own eternal spirit, or as a “spiritual” and eternal sacrifice] as a ·perfect [unblemished] sacrifice to God. His blood [^Csignifying his sacrificial death] will make our consciences ·pure [cleansed] from ·useless acts [or acts that lead to death; ^Ldead works; 6:1] so we may ·serve [worship; offer priestly service for] the living God.

¹⁰ We have a ·sacrifice [^Laltar], but the priests who serve in the ·Holy Tent [^TTabernacle] ·cannot [^Lhave no authority/right to] eat from it.