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

И ние, като съдействаме с Бога, също ви умоляваме да не приемате напразно Божията благодат.

2 T he 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.”

Защото Той казва: "В благоприятно време те послушах и в спасителен ден ти помогнах." Ето, сега е благоприятно време, ето, сега е спасителен ден.

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

Ние в нищо не даваме никаква причина за съблазън, да не би да се злослови нашето служение;

4 E verything 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.

но във всичко сме одобрени, като Божии служители, с голяма твърдост, в скърби, в нужди, в утеснения,

5 W e 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.

в бичувания, в затваряния, в смутове, в трудове, в неспане, в неядене,

6 W e 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.

с чистота, с благоразумие, с дълготърпение, с благост, със Святия Дух, с нелицемерна любов,

7 W e 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.

с говорене истината, с Божия сила, чрез оръжията на правдата в дясната ръка и в лявата;

8 S ome 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.

всред слава и опозорение, всред укори и похвали; смятани за измамници, но пак истинни;

9 S ome 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.

като непознати, а пък добре познати; като на умиране, а, ето, живеем; като наказвани, ала не умъртвявани;

10 W e 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.

като наскърбени, а винаги радостни; като сиромаси, но обогатяваме мнозина; като че нищо нямаме, но притежаваме всичко. Храм на живия Бог

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

О, коринтяни, устата ни са отворени към вас, сърцето ни се разшири.

12 O ur hearts are not closed to you. But you have closed your hearts to us.

На вас не е тясно в нас, но в самите вас е тясно за нас.

13 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.

И така, във вид на еднакво възмездие (като на деца говоря) разширете и вие сърцата си.

14 D o 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?

Не се впрягайте заедно с невярващите; защото какво общо имат правдата и беззаконието или какво общение има светлината с тъмнината?

15 H ow 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?

И какво съгласие има Христос с Велиал? Или какво съучастие има вярващият с невярващия?

16 H ow 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.”

И какво споразумение има Божият храм с идолите? Защото ние сме храм на живия Бог, както каза Бог: "Ще се заселя между тях и между тях ще ходя; и ще им бъда Бог и те ще Ми бъдат народ."

17 T he 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.

Затова: "Излезте отсред тях и се отделете", казва Господ, "и не се допирайте до нечисто"; и: "Аз ще ви приема

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

и ще ви бъда Отец, и вие ще Ми бъдете синове и дъщери", казва всемогъщият Господ.