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.

The Temporal and Eternal

5 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. ² For indeed, in this tent we ^(D)groan, longing to be ^(E)clothed with our ^[b]dwelling from heaven, ³ since in fact after putting it on, we will not be found naked. ⁴ 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. ⁵ Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who ^(I)gave us the Spirit as a ^[c]pledge.

⁶ Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that ^(J)while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— ⁷ for ^(K)we walk by faith, not by ^[d]sight— ⁸ 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. ⁹ Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be ^(N)pleasing to Him.

²² For we know that the whole creation ^(A)groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. ^23 (B)And not only that, but also we ourselves, having ^(C)the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves ^(D)groan within ourselves, ^(E)waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, ^(F)the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For ^(G)in hope we have been saved, but ^(H)hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But ^(I)if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.