1 A nd working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain

Laboring together with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain '> merciful kindness by which God exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them—do not receive it to no purpose].

2 ( for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):

For He says, In the time of favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on the day of deliverance (the day of salvation). Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance; behold, now is the day of salvation!

3 g iving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed;

We put no obstruction in anybody’s way, so that no fault may be found and ministry blamed and discredited.

4 b ut in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

But we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities,

5 i n stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger;

6 i n pureness, in knowledge, in long suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,

By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love;

7 i n the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

By the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left hand;

8 b y glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;

Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. as deceivers (impostors), and truthful and honest.

9 a s unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

as unknown and ignored, and well-known and recognized; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and not killed;

10 a s sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

As grieved and mourning, yet always rejoicing; as poor bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

11 O ur mouth is open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.

Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians, and our heart is expanded wide!

12 Y e are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own affections.

There is no lack of room for you in, but you lack room in your own affections.

13 N ow for a recompense in like kind (I speak as unto my children), be ye also enlarged.

By way of return then, do this for me—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.

14 B e not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?

15 A nd what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever?

What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial ? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

16 A nd what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

What agreement a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

17 W herefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,

So, come out from among, and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor,

18 A nd will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.