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

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

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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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 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.

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

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