1 А ми, як співробітники, благаємо, щоб ви Божої благодаті не брали надармо.

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

2 Б о каже: Приємного часу почув Я тебе, і поміг Я тобі в день спасіння! Ось тепер час приємний, ось тепер день спасіння!

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 Н і в чому ніякого спотикання не робимо, щоб служіння було бездоганне,

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

4 а в усьому себе виявляємо, як служителів Божих, у великім терпінні, у скорботах, у бідах, у тіснотах,

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 у вдарах, у в'язницях, у розрухах, у працях, у недосипаннях, у постах,

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 у чистості, у розумі, у лагідності, у добрості, у Дусі Святім, у нелицемірній любові,

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 у слові істини, у силі Божій, зо зброєю правди в правиці й лівиці,

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 ч ерез славу й безчестя, через ганьбу й хвалу, як обманці, але ми правдиві;

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 я к незнані, та познані, як умираючі, та ось ми живі; як карані, та не забиті;

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 я к сумні, але завжди веселі; як убогі, але багатьох ми збагачуємо; як ті, що нічого не мають, але всім володіємо.

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 У ста наші відкрились до вас, коринтяни, серце наше розширене!

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

12 У нас вам не тісно, але тісно вам у ваших серцях!

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

13 Т акою ж відплатою говорю, немов дітям розширені будьте й ви!

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 Д о чужого ярма не впрягайтесь з невірними; бо що спільного між праведністю та беззаконням, або яка спільність у світла з темрявою?

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 Я ка згода в Христа з белійяаром? Або яка частка вірного з невірним?

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 А бо яка згода поміж Божим храмом та ідолами? Бо ви храм Бога Живого, як Бог прорік: Поселюсь серед них і ходитиму, і буду їм Богом, а вони будуть народом Моїм!

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 В ийдіть тому з-поміж них та й відлучіться, каже Господь, і не торкайтесь нечистого, і Я вас прийму,

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 і буду Я вам за Отця, а ви за синів і дочок Мені будете, говорить Господь Вседержитель!

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