Living by Faith, Not by Sight

5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, the tent we live in,1 is dismantled,2 we have a building from God, a house not built by human hands, that is eternal in the heavens. 5:2 For in this earthly house3 we groan, because we desire to put on4 our heavenly dwelling, 5:3 if indeed, after we have put on5 our heavenly house,6 we will not be found naked. 5:4 For we groan while we are in this tent,7 since we are weighed down,8 because we do not want to be unclothed, but clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5:5 Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose9 is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.10 5:6 Therefore we are always full of courage, and we know that as long as we are alive here on earth11 we are absent from the Lord—5:7 for we live12 by faith, not by sight. 5:8 Thus we are full of courage and would prefer to be away13 from the body and at home with the Lord. 5:9 So then whether we are alive14 or away, we make it our ambition to please him.15 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ,16 so that each one may be paid back according to what he has done while in the body, whether good or evil.17