1 A sí, pues, nosotros, como colaboradores suyos, os exhortamos también a que no recibáis en vano la gracia de Dios.

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

2 P orque dice: En tiempo aceptable te he oído, Y en día de salvación te he socorrido. m He aquí ahora el tiempo aceptable; he aquí ahora el día de salvación.

The 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.”

3 N o damos a nadie ninguna ocasión de tropiezo, para que nuestro ministerio no sea vituperado;

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

4 a ntes bien, nos recomendamos en todo como ministros de Dios, en mucha paciencia, en tribulaciones, en necesidades, en angustias;

Everything 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.

5 e n azotes, en cárceles, en tumultos, en trabajos, en desvelos, en ayunos;

We 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.

6 e n pureza, en ciencia, en longanimidad, en bondad, en el Espíritu Santo, en amor sincero,

We 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.

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

We 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.

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

Some 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.

9 c omo desconocidos, pero bien conocidos; como moribundos, mas he aquí vivimos; como castigados, mas no muertos;

Some 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.

10 c omo entristecidos, mas siempre gozosos; como pobres, mas enriqueciendo a muchos; como no teniendo nada, mas poseyéndolo todo.

We 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.

11 N uestra boca se ha abierto a vosotros, oh corintios; nuestro corazón se ha ensanchado.

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

12 N o estáis estrechos en nosotros, pero sí sois estrechos en vuestro propio corazón.

Our hearts are not closed to you. But you have closed your hearts to us.

13 P ues, para corresponder del mismo modo (como a hijos hablo), ensanchaos también vosotros. Somos templo del Dios viviente

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.

14 N o 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?

Do 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?

15 ¿ Y qué concordia Cristo con Belial? ¿O qué parte el creyente con el incrédulo?

How 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?

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

How 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.”

17 P or lo cual, Salid de en medio de ellos, y apartaos, dice el Señor, Y no toquéis lo inmundo; Y yo os recibiré,

The 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.

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

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