1 E nós, cooperando com ele, também vos exortamos a que não recebais a graça de Deus em vão;

We are working together with God. We ask you from our hearts not to receive God’s loving-favor and then waste it.

2 ( porque diz: No tempo aceitável te escutei e no dia da salvação te socorri; eis aqui agora o tempo aceitável, eis aqui agora o dia da salvação);

The Holy Writings say, “I heard you at the right time. I helped you on that day to be saved from the punishment of sin. Now is the right time! See! Now is the day to be saved.”

3 n ão dando nós nenhum motivo de escândalo em coisa alguma, para que o nosso ministério não seja censurado;

We do not want to put anything in the way that would keep people from God. We do not want to be blamed.

4 a ntes em tudo recomendando-nos como ministros de Deus; em muita perseverança, em aflições, em necessidades, em angústias,

Everything we do shows we are God’s servants. We have had to wait and suffer. We have needed things. We have been in many hard places and have had many troubles.

5 e m açoites, em prisões, em tumultos, em trabalhos, em vigílias, em jejuns,

We have been beaten. We have been put in prison. We have been in fights. We have worked hard. We have stayed awake watching. We have gone without food.

6 n a pureza, na ciência, na longanimidade, na bondade, no Espírito Santo, no amor não fingido,

We have been pure. We have known what to do. We have suffered long. We have been kind. The Holy Spirit has worked in us. We have had true love.

7 n a palavra da verdade, no poder de Deus, pelas armas da justiça ã direita e ã esquerda,

We have spoken the truth. We have God’s power. We have the sword of being right with God in the right hand and in the left hand.

8 p or honra e por desonra, por má fama e por boa fama; como enganadores, porém verdadeiros;

Some men respect us and some do not. Some men speak bad against us and some thank us. They say we lie, but we speak the truth.

9 c omo desconhecidos, porém bem conhecidos; como quem morre, e eis que vivemos; como castigados, porém não mortos;

Some men act as if they do not know us. And yet we are known by everyone. They act as if we were dead, but we are alive. They try to hurt and destroy us, but they are not able to kill us.

10 c omo entristecidos, mas sempre nos alegrando; como pobres, mas enriquecendo a muitos; como nada tendo, mas possuindo tudo.

We are full of sorrow and yet we are always happy. We are poor and yet we make many people rich. We have nothing and yet we have everything.

11 ç coríntios, a nossa boca está aberta para vós, o nosso coração está dilatado!

We have spoken to you who are in the city of Corinth with plain words. Our hearts are wide open.

12 N ão estais estreitados em nós; mas estais estreitados nos vossos próprios afetos.

Our hearts are not closed to you. But you have closed your hearts to us.

13 O ra, em recompensa disto (falo como a filhos), dilatai-vos também vós.

I am speaking to you now as if you were my own children. Open your hearts wide to us! That will pay us back for what we have done for you.

14 N ão vos prendais a um jugo desigual com os incrédulos; pois que sociedade tem a justiça com a injustiça? ou que comunhão tem a luz com as trevas?

Do not be joined together with those who do not belong to Christ. How can that which is good get along with that which is bad? How can light be in the same place with darkness?

15 Q ue harmonia há entre Cristo e Belial? ou que parte tem o crente com o incrédulo?

How can Christ get along with the devil? How can one who has put his trust in Christ get along with one who has not put his trust in Christ?

16 E que consenso tem o santuário de Deus com ídolos? Pois nós somos santuário de Deus vivo, como Deus disse: Neles habitarei, e entre eles andarei; e eu serei o seu Deus e eles serão o meu povo.

How can the house of God get along with false gods? We are the house of the living God. God has said, “I will live in them and will walk among them. I will be their God and they will be My people.”

17 P elo que, saí vós do meio deles e separai-vos, diz o Senhor; e não toqueis coisa imunda, e eu vos receberei;

The Lord has said, “So come out from among them. Do not be joined to them. Touch nothing that is sinful. And I will receive you.

18 e eu serei para vós Pai, e vós sereis para mim filhos e filhas, diz o Senhor Todo-Poderoso.

I will be a Father to you. You will be My sons and daughters, says the All-powerful God.”