2 Corinthians 4:7–5:8
7 But we have this treasure in earthenware jars, in order that the extraordinary degree of the power may be from God and not from us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying around the death of Jesus in our body, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are continually being handed over to death because of Jesus, in order that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life in you. 13 But because we* have the same spirit of faith in accordance with what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,”d we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 because we* know that the one who raised Jesuse will also raise us together with Jesus and present us together with you. 15 For all these things ⌊are for your sake⌋f, in order that the grace that is increasing through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but even if our outer person is being destroyed, yet our inner person is being renewed day after day. 17 For our momentary light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory ⌊beyond all measure and proportion⌋g, 18 because* we are not looking at what is seen, but what is not seen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is not seen is eternal.
Absent from the Body and at Home with the Lord
5 For we know that if our earthly house, the tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made by hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed, in this house we groan, because we* desire to put on our dwelling from heaven, 3 if indeed, even after we* have taken it off,a we will not be found naked. 4 For indeed we who are in this tent groan, being burdened ⌊for this reason, that⌋b we do not want to be unclothed, but to be clothed, in order that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the down payment, the Spirit.
6 Therefore, although we are* always confident and know that while we* are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—7 for we live by faith, not by sight—8 so we are confident and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.