1 A nd working together also we call upon that ye receive not in vain the grace of God --

Laboring together with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain '> merciful kindness by which God exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them—do not receive it to no purpose].

2 f or He saith, `In an acceptable time I did hear thee, and in a day of salvation I did help thee, lo, now a well-accepted time; lo, now, a day of salvation,' --

For He says, In the time of favor (of an assured welcome) I have listened to and heeded your call, and I have helped you on the day of deliverance (the day of salvation). Behold, now is truly the time for a gracious welcome and acceptance; behold, now is the day of salvation!

3 i n nothing giving any cause of offence, that the ministration may be not blamed,

We put no obstruction in anybody’s way, so that no fault may be found and ministry blamed and discredited.

4 b ut in everything recommending ourselves as God's ministrants; in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses,

But we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: through great endurance, in tribulation and suffering, in hardships and privations, in sore straits and calamities,

5 i n stripes, in imprisonments, in insurrections, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,

In beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless watching, hunger;

6 i n pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned,

By innocence and purity, knowledge and spiritual insight, longsuffering and patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unfeigned love;

7 i n the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armour of the righteousness, on the right and on the left,

By the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left hand;

8 t hrough glory and dishonour, through evil report and good report, as leading astray, and true;

Amid honor and dishonor; in defaming and evil report and in praise and good report. as deceivers (impostors), and truthful and honest.

9 a s unknown, and recognized; as dying, and lo, we live; as chastened, and not put to death;

as unknown and ignored, and well-known and recognized; as dying, and yet here we are alive; as chastened by suffering and not killed;

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

As grieved and mourning, yet always rejoicing; as poor bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

11 O ur mouth hath been open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart hath been enlarged!

Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians, and our heart is expanded wide!

12 y e are not straitened in us, and ye are straitened in your bowels,

There is no lack of room for you in, but you lack room in your own affections.

13 a nd a recompense of the same kind, (as to children I say,) be ye enlarged -- also ye!

By way of return then, do this for me—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.

14 B ecome not yoked with others -- unbelievers, for what partaking to righteousness and lawlessness?

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness?

15 a nd what fellowship to light with darkness? and what concord to Christ with Belial? or what part to a believer with an unbeliever?

What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial ? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

16 a nd what agreement to the sanctuary of God with idols? for ye are a sanctuary of the living God, according as God said -- `I will dwell in them, and will walk among, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people,

What agreement a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

17 w herefore, come ye forth out of the midst of them, and be separated, saith the Lord, and an unclean thing do not touch, and I -- I will receive you,

So, come out from among, and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor,

18 a nd I will be to you for a Father, and ye -- ye shall be to Me for sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.'

And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.