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

Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,

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, “At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

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

We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,

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

but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

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

in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

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

in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere 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,

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

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

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

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

as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, 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 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

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

Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.

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

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.

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

Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide.

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

Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

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

What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer 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 has a temple of God with idols? For you 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 will 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,

Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.

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

I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”