1 W e then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain

2 F or He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):

3 W e give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.

giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed;

4 B ut in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,

but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 i n stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;

in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

6 b y purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,

in pureness, in knowledge, in long suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,

7 b y the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on 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 honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;

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

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

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

10 a s sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. Be Holy

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

11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.

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

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

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

13 N ow in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.

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

14 D o not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?

15 A nd what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever?

16 A nd what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.”

And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we 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 shall be my people.

17 T herefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you,

18 “ I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the L ord Almighty.”

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