⁷ But we have this treasure in jars of clay^(A) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God^(B) and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side,^(C) but not crushed; perplexed,^(D) but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted,^(E) but not abandoned;^(F) struck down, but not destroyed.^{(G) 10} We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus,^(H) so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.^{(I) 11} For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake,^(J) so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.^(K)

¹³ It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[a](L) Since we have that same spirit of^[b] faith,^(M) we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead^(N) will also raise us with Jesus^(O) and present us with you to himself.^{(P) 15} All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving^(Q) to overflow to the glory of God.

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

Awaiting the New Body

5 For we know that if the earthly^(W) tent^(X) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. ² Meanwhile we groan,^(Y) longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^{(Z) 3} because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. ⁴ For while we are in this tent, we groan^(AA) and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling,^(AB) so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ 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.^(AC)

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.^{(AD) 8} We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.^{(AE) 9} So we make it our goal to please him,^(AF) 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^(AG) for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Psalm 63^[a]

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.