2 Corinthians 6
1 But, as a help to you, we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
But working together we indeed intreat you not to have received the grace of God in vain:
2 For he says: “In a favorable time, I heeded you; and on the day of salvation, I helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
(for he says, At a set time I heard you, and in the day of salvation I assisted you; behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation);
3 May we never give offense to anyone, so that our ministry may not be disparaged.
giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, in order that the ministry may not be blamed;
4 But in all things, let us exhibit ourselves as ministers of God with great patience: through tribulation, difficulties, and distress;
but in everything commending ourselves, as the ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulations, in straits, in difficulties,
5 despite wounds, imprisonment, and rebellion; with hard work, vigilance, and fasting;
in stripes, in prisons, in tumults, in labors, in vigils, in fastings;
6 by chastity, knowledge, and longsuffering; in pleasantness, in the Holy Spirit, and in unfeigned charity;
by purity, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
7 with the Word of truth, with the power of God, and with the armor of justice to the right and to the left;
by the word of truth, by the power of God; through the arms of righteousness right and left,
8 through honor and dishonor, despite good reports and bad, whether seen as deceivers or truth-tellers, whether ignored or acknowledged;
through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceivers, and true;
9 as if dying and yet truly alive; as if chastised and yet not subdued;
as being unknown, and perfectly known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and not killed;
10 as if sorrowful and yet always rejoicing; as if needy and yet enriching many; as if having nothing and possessing everything.
as sorrowing, and always rejoicing; as poor, and making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.
11 Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians; our heart is enlarged.
Our mouth is open unto you, O Corinthians, our heart is enlarged.
12 You are not narrowed by us, but it is by your own inner selves that you are narrowed.
Be not straitened in reference to us, but be straitened in your own affections.
13 But since we have the same recompense, (I am speaking as if to my own sons), you, too, should be enlarged.
But as I speak to children, you indeed receive this reward.
14 Do not choose to bear the yoke with unbelievers. For how can justice be a participant with iniquity? Or how can the fellowship of light be a participant with darkness?
Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what participation is there to righteousness and unrighteousness? or what fellowship has light unto darkness?
15 And how can Christ join together with Belial? Or what part do the faithful have with the unfaithful?
What concord of Christ unto Belial? or what part has a faithful man with an infidel?
16 And what consensus does the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, just as God says: “I will dwell with them, and I will walk among them. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
And what harmony has the temple of God with idols? for we are the temple of the living God; as God said; I will live in them, and walk about among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Because of this, you must depart from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean.
Therefore come out from the midst of them, and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 Then I will accept you. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
and I will be to you for a Father, and you shall be unto me for sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
