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

Working together, we entreat also that you not receive 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 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 cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may 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 everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

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

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

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

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 weapons of righteousness for the right hand and 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; regarded as deceivers and yet true;

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

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, 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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

14 D o not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has 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 O r what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?

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.

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 “ 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 separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. 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.

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