1For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
1我們原知道，我們這地上的帳棚若拆毀了，必得神所造，不是人手所造，在天上永存的房屋。
2For indeed in this [house] we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,
2我們在這帳棚裡歎息，深想得那從天上來的房屋，好像穿上衣服；
3inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.
3倘若穿上，被遇見的時候就不至於赤身了。
4For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.
4我們在這帳棚裡歎息勞苦，並非願意脫下這個，乃是願意穿上那個，好叫這必死的被生命吞滅了。
5Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.
5為此，培植我們的就是神，他又賜給我們聖靈作憑據（原文是質）。
6Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--
6所以，我們時常坦然無懼，並且曉得我們住在身內，便與主相離。
7for we walk by faith, not by sight--
7因我們行事為人是憑著信心，不是憑著眼見。
8we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
8我們坦然無懼，是更願意離開身體與主同住。
9Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
9所以，無論是住在身內，離開身外，我們立了志向，要得主的喜悅。
10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
10因為我們眾人必要在基督臺前顯露出來，叫各人按著本身所行的，或善或惡受報。
11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
11我們既知道主是可畏的，所以勸人。但我們在神面前是顯明的，盼望在你們的良心裡也是顯明的。
12We are not again commending ourselves to you but [are] giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have [an answer] for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.
12我們不是向你們再舉薦自己，乃是叫你們因我們有可誇之處，好對那憑外貌不憑內心誇口的人，有言可答。
13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you.
13我們若果顛狂，是為神；若果謹守，是為你們。
14For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;
14原來基督的愛激勵我們；因我們想，一人既替眾人死，眾人就都死了；
15and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
15並且他替眾人死，是叫那些活著的人不再為自己活，乃為替他們死而復活的主活。
16Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know [Him] [in this way] no longer.
16所以，我們從今以後，不憑著外貌（原文是肉體；本節同）認人了。雖然憑著外貌認過基督，如今卻不再這樣認他了。
17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, [he is] a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
17若有人在基督裡，他就是新造的人，舊事已過，都變成新的了。
18Now all [these] things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
18一切都是出於神；他藉著基督使我們與他和好，又將勸人與他和好的職分賜給我們。
19namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
19這就是神在基督裡，叫世人與自己和好，不將他們的過犯歸到他們身上，並且將這和好的道理託付了我們。
20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
20所以，我們作基督的使者，就好像神藉我們勸你們一般。我們替基督求你們與神和好。
21He made Him who knew no sin [to be] sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
21神使那無罪（無罪：原文是不知罪）的，替我們成為罪，好叫我們在他裡面成為神的義。