²¹ Who knows whether the human spirit goes upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?^(A)

⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the breath^[a] returns to God who gave it.^(A)

²³ I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better,^(A)

5 For we know that, if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.^(A)

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.^(A)

²² The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham.^[a] The rich man also died and was buried.^{(A) 23} In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.^[b](B)

⁸ Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

²⁵ to take the place^[a] in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”