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.

Así, pues, nosotros, como colaboradores suyos, os exhortamos también a que no recibáis en vano la gracia de Dios,

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.”

porque dice: «En tiempo aceptable te he oído, y en día de salvación te he socorrido.» Ahora es el tiempo aceptable; ahora es el día de salvación.

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.

No damos a nadie ninguna ocasión de tropiezo, para que nuestro ministerio no sea desacreditado.

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.

Antes bien, nos recomendamos en todo como ministros de Dios, en mucha paciencia, en tribulaciones, en necesidades, en angustias,

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.

en azotes, en cárceles, en tumultos, en trabajos, en desvelos, en ayunos;

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.

en pureza, en conocimiento, en tolerancia, en bondad, en el Espíritu Santo, en amor sincero;

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.

en palabra de verdad, en poder de Dios y con armas de justicia a diestra y a siniestra;

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.

por honra y por deshonra, por mala fama y por buena fama; como engañadores, pero veraces;

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.

como desconocidos, pero bien conocidos; como moribundos, pero llenos de vida; como castigados, pero no muertos;

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.

como entristecidos, pero siempre gozosos; como pobres, pero enriqueciendo a muchos; como no teniendo nada, pero poseyéndolo todo.

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

Os hemos hablado con franqueza, corintios; nuestro corazón os hemos abierto.

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

No hemos sido mezquinos en nuestro amor por vosotros, pero vosotros sí lo habéis sido en vuestro propio corazón.

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.

Para corresponder, pues, del mismo modo os hablo como a hijos, actuad también vosotros con franqueza. Somos templo del Dios viviente

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?

No os unáis en yugo desigual con los incrédulos, porque ¿qué compañerismo tiene la justicia con la injusticia? ¿Y qué comunión, la luz con las tinieblas?

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?

¿Qué armonía puede haber entre Cristo y Belial? ¿O qué parte el creyente con el incrédulo?

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.”

¿Y qué acuerdo hay entre el templo de Dios y los ídolos? Y vosotros sois el templo del Dios viviente, como Dios dijo: «Habitaré y andaré entre ellos; yo seré su Dios y ellos serán mi pueblo.»

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.

Por lo cual, «Salid de en medio de ellos y apartaos, dice el Señor, y no toquéis lo impuro; y yo os recibiré

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

y seré para vosotros por Padre, y vosotros me seréis hijos e hijas, dice el Señor Todopoderoso.»