Scimus enim quoniam si terrestris domus nostra hujus habitationis dissolvatur, quod ædificationem ex Deo habemus, domum non manufactam, æternam in cælis.

For we know, if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

Once this earthly tent-dwelling of ours has come to an end, God, we are sure, has a solid building waiting for us, a dwelling not made with hands, that will last eternally in heaven.

Nam et in hoc ingemiscimus, habitationem nostram, quæ de cælo est, superindui cupientes:

For in this also we groan, desiring to be clothed upon with our habitation that is from heaven.

And indeed, it is for this that we sigh, longing for the shelter of that home which heaven will give us,

si tamen vestiti, non nudi inveniamur.

Yet so that we be found clothed, not naked.

if death, when it comes, is to find us sheltered, not defenceless against the winds.

Nam et qui sumus in hoc tabernaculo, ingemiscimus gravati: eo quod nolumus expoliari, sed supervestiri, ut absorbeatur quod mortale est, a vita.

For we also, who are in this tabernacle, do groan, being burthened; because we would not be unclothed, but clothed upon, that that which is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

Yes, if we tent-dwellers here go sighing and heavy-hearted, it is not because we would be stripped of something; rather, we would clothe ourselves afresh; our mortal nature must be swallowed up in life.

Qui autem efficit nos in hoc ipsum, Deus, qui dedit nobis pignus Spiritus.

Now he that maketh us for this very thing, is God, who hath given us the pledge of the Spirit.

For this, nothing else, God was preparing us, when he gave us the foretaste of his Spirit.

Audentes igitur semper, scientes quoniam dum sumus in corpore, peregrinamur a Domino

Therefore having always confidence, knowing that, while we are in the body, we are absent from the Lord.

We take heart, then, continually, since we recognize that our spirits are exiled from the Lord’s presence so long as they are at home in the body,

(per fidem enim ambulamus, et non per speciem):

(For we walk by faith, and not by sight.)

with faith, instead of a clear view, to guide our steps.

audemus autem, et bonam voluntatem habemus magis peregrinari a corpore, et præsentes esse ad Dominum.

But we are confident, and have a good will to be absent rather from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

We take heart, I say, and have a mind rather to be exiled from the body, and at home with the Lord;

Et ideo contendimus, sive absentes, sive præsentes, placere illi.

And therefore we labour, whether absent or present, to please him.

to that end, at home or in exile, our ambition is to win his favour.

Omnes enim nos manifestari oportet ante tribunal Christi, ut referat unusquisque propria corporis, prout gessit, sive bonum, sive malum.

For we must all be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil.

All of us have a scrutiny to undergo before Christ’s judgement-seat, for each to reap what his mortal life has earned, good or ill, according to his deeds.

Scientes ergo timorem Domini, hominibus suademus, Deo autem manifesti sumus. Spero autem et in conscientiis vestris manifestos nos esse.

Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we use persuasion to men; but to God we are manifest. And I trust also that in your consciences we are manifest.

It is, then, with the fear of the Lord before our minds that we try to win men over by persuasion; God recognizes us for what we are, and so I hope, does your better judgement.

Non iterum commendamus nos vobis, sed occasionem damus vobis gloriandi pro nobis: ut habeatis ad eos qui in facie gloriantur, et non in corde.

We commend not ourselves again to you, but give you occasion to glory in our behalf; that you may have somewhat to answer them who glory in face, and not in heart.

No, we are not trying to recommend ourselves to your favour afresh; we are shewing you how to find material for boasting of us, to those who have so much to boast of outwardly, and nothing inwardly.

Sive enim mente excedimus Deo: sive sobrii sumus, vobis.

For whether we be transported in mind, it is to God; or whether we be sober, it is for you.

Are these wild words? Then take them as addressed to God. Or sober sense? Then take them as addressed to yourselves.

Caritas enim Christi urget nos: æstimantes hoc, quoniam si unus pro omnibus mortuus est, ergo omnes mortui sunt:

For the charity of Christ presseth us: judging this, that if one died for all, then all were dead.

With us, Christ’s love is a compelling motive, and this is the conviction we have reached; if one man died on behalf of all, then all thereby became dead men;

et pro omnibus mortuus est Christus: ut, et qui vivunt, jam non sibi vivant, sed ei qui pro ipsis mortuus est et resurrexit.

And Christ died for all; that they also who live, may not now live to themselves, but unto him who died for them, and rose again.

Christ died for us all, so that being alive should no longer mean living with our own life, but with his life who died for us and has risen again;

Itaque nos ex hoc neminem novimus secundum carnem. Et si cognovimus secundum carnem Christum, sed nunc jam non novimus.

Wherefore henceforth, we know no man according to the flesh. And if we have known Christ according to the flesh; but now we know him so no longer.

and therefore, henceforward, we do not think of anybody in a merely human fashion; even if we used to think of Christ in a human fashion, we do so no longer;

Si qua ergo in Christo nova creatura, vetera transierunt: ecce facta sunt omnia nova.

If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away, behold all things are made new.

it follows, in fact, that when a man becomes a new creature in Christ, his old life has disappeared, everything has become new about him.

Omnia autem ex Deo, qui nos reconciliavit sibi per Christum: et dedit nobis ministerium reconciliationis,

But all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Christ; and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

This, as always, is God’s doing; it is he who, through Christ, has reconciled us to himself, and allowed us to minister this reconciliation of his to others.

quoniam quidem Deus erat in Christo mundum reconcilians sibi, non reputans illis delicta ipsorum, et posuit in nobis verbum reconciliationis.

For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins; and he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation.

Yes, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, establishing in our hearts his message of reconciliation, instead of holding men to account for their sins.

Pro Christo ergo legatione fungimur, tamquam Deo exhortante per nos. Obsecramus pro Christo, reconciliamini Deo.

For Christ therefore we are ambassadors, God as it were exhorting by us. For Christ, we beseech you, be reconciled to God.

We are Christ’s ambassadors, then, and God appeals to you through us; we entreat you in Christ’s name, make your peace with God.

Eum, qui non noverat peccatum, pro nobis peccatum fecit, ut nos efficeremur justitia Dei in ipso.

Him, who knew no sin, he hath made sin for us, that we might be made the justice of God in him.

Christ never knew sin, and God made him into sin for us, so that in him we might be turned into the holiness of God.