1 W e then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

But fellow-workmen, we also beseech that ye receive not the grace of God in vain:

2 ( For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

(for he says, I have listened to thee in an accepted time, and I have helped thee in a day of salvation: behold, now well-accepted time; behold, now day of salvation:)

3 G iving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

giving no manner of offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed;

4 B ut in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

but in everything commending ourselves as God's ministers, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in straits,

5 I n stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

in stripes, in prisons, in riots, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,

6 B y pureness, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,

7 B y the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

in word of truth, in power of God; through the arms of righteousness on the right hand and left,

8 B y honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

through glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report: as deceivers, and true;

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

as unknown, and well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as disciplined, and not put to death;

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

as grieved, but always rejoicing; as poor, but enriching many; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

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

Our mouth is opened to you, Corinthians, our heart is expanded.

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

Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your affections;

13 N ow for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

but for an answering recompense, (I speak as to children,) let your heart also expand itself.

14 B e ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Be not diversely yoked with unbelievers; for what participation between righteousness and lawlessness? or what fellowship of light with darkness?

15 A nd what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

and what consent of Christ with Beliar, or what part for a believer along with an unbeliever?

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

and what agreement of God's temple with idols? for ye are living God's temple; according as God has said, I will dwell among them, and walk among; and I will be their God, and they shall be to me a people.

17 W herefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Wherefore come out from the midst of them, and be separated, saith Lord, and touch not unclean, and I will receive you;

18 A nd will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

and I will be to you for a Father, and ye shall be to me for sons and daughters, saith Lord Almighty.