1 A nd working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—

¶ We then, as workers together with him, exhort you also that ye have not received the grace of God in vain.

2 f or 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 ”—

(For he saith, I have heard thee in an acceptable time, and in the day of saving health I have succoured thee; behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of saving health.)

3 g iving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

Giving no offense in anything, that the ministry not be blamed,

4 b ut in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

But in all things showing ourselves as the ministers of God in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses,

5 i n beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,

in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,

6 i n purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,

in chastity, in knowledge, in meekness, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned charity,

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

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

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

through honour and dishonour, through evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet as men of the truth;

9 a s unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,

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

10 a s sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing 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 has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.

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

12 Y ou are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.

Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

13 N ow in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.

Now for a recompense in the same (I speak as unto my children), be ye also enlarged.

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

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness? and what communion does light have with darkness?

15 O r what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

And what concord does Christ have with Belial? or what part do the faithful have with the unfaithful?

16 O r 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.

And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 “ Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “ And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.

Therefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing; and I will receive you

18 “ And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.

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