16 Therefore we (A)do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our (B)inner person is (C)being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, (D)light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we (E)look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

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16 Therefore we do not lose heart.(A) Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly(B) we are being renewed(C) day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.(D) 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen,(E) since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

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The Temporal and Eternal

For we know that if our [a](A)earthly (B)tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house (C)not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed, in this tent we (D)groan, longing to be (E)clothed with our [b]dwelling from heaven, since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. For indeed, we who are in this tent (F)groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be (G)clothed, so that what is (H)mortal will be swallowed up by life. Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who (I)gave us the Spirit as a [c]pledge.

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that (J)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— for (K)we walk by faith, not by [d]sight— but we are of good courage and (L)prefer rather to be absent from the body and (M)to be at home with the Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be (N)pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before (O)the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for [e]his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 5:1 Lit earthly house of the tent
  2. 2 Corinthians 5:2 I.e., the resurrected body
  3. 2 Corinthians 5:5 Or first installment
  4. 2 Corinthians 5:7 Or appearance
  5. 2 Corinthians 5:10 Lit the things

Awaiting the New Body

For we know that if the earthly(A) tent(B) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan,(C) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(D) because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan(E) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,(F) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.(G)

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.(H) We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.(I) So we make it our goal to please him,(J) 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(K) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

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