2 Corinthians · Chapter 5

[ edit] Soþeli we witen, for if oure erþely hous of þis dwellyng be diſſolued, þat we han a bildyng of God, an hous not maad by hondis, euerlaſtinge in heuenes. Forwhi and in þis þing we mornen, coueitynge for to be cloþid aboue oure dwellinge of heuene; if neþeles we ben founden cloþid, and not nakid. Forwhi and we þat ben in þis tabernacle, ſorwen wiþ inneforþ greuyd, for þat we wolen not be diſpoylid, but be cloþid aboue; þat þe ilke þing þat is deedli, be ſopun vp of lyf. Forſoþe he þat makiþ vs into þis þing, is God, þat ȝaf to vs a wedd, or eernes, of ſpirit.

Þerfore we beynge hardy alle gatis, and witinge for þe whyle we ben in þis body, we gon in pilgrymage fro þe Lord; forſoþ we walken by feiþ, and not by cleer ſiȝte. Forſoþ we ben hardy, and han good wille, more for to be in pilgrymage fro þe body, and for to be preſent to God. And þerfore we ſtryuen, wheþer abſent, wheþir preſent, for to pleſe hym. Forſoþe it byhoueþ vs alle for to be ſchewid bifore þe trone of Criſt, þat euery man reſceyue, or telle aȝen, þe propre þingis of body, as he haþ don, eþer good, eþir yuel. Þerfore we witynge þe drede of þe Lord, ſoftly mouen, or counceilen, to men, forſoþ to God we ben opyn; ſoþly I hope, and in ȝoure conſciencis vs for to be knowun.

We comenden not vs ſilf eftſoone to ȝou, but we ȝyuen to ȝou occacioun for to glorie for vs, þat ȝe haue to hem þat glorien in þe face, and not in þe herte. Soþli wher we by mynde, or reſoun, paſſen to God, wher we ben ſobre to ȝou? Soþli þe charite of Criſt dryueþ vs; geſſinge, or demynge, þis þing, for if oon is deed for alle, þerfore alle ben deede. And Criſt deyde for alle, þat and þei þat lyuen, lyue not now to hem ſilf, but to him þat deyede for hem, and roos aȝen. And ſo we fro þis tyme han knowe no man vp þe fleiſch; and if we knowen Criſt vp þe fleiſch, but riȝt now we han not knowen.

Þerfore if ony newe creature is in Criſt, oolde þingis han paſſid, and lo! alle þingis ben maad newe. Forſoþe alle þingis of God, þe which reconcilede, or acordide, vs to him by Criſt, and ȝaf to vs þe myniſterie, or ſeruyſe, of reconcilinge. Soþli for God was in Criſt, reconcilynge to him þe world, not rettinge to hem her giltis, and puttide in vs þe word of reconcilinge. Þerfore we ben ſett in legacie, or meſſage, for Criſt, as God moneſtinge by vs; we biſechen ȝou for Criſt, be ȝe reconcilid to God. God þe fadir made him þe ſynne for vs, þat is, redempcioun, or ſacrifice for ſynne, þe which knew not ſynne, þat we ſchulde be maad riȝtwyſneſſe of God in hym.