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

And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive 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, “ At the acceptable time I listened to you, And on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “ the acceptable time,” behold, now is “ the day of salvation ”—

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

giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

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 servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

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

in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,

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

in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,

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

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

by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded 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 yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet 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 sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

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

Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.

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

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

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

Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.

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

Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

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

Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common 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.

Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “ I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My 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.

“ Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “ And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome 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 a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.