2 Corinthians 6
1 So we therefore as workers together beseech you, that ye receiue not the grace of God in vaine.
Therefore, as God’s fellow workers, we also appeal to you not to receive his loving kindness in vain.
2 For he sayth, I haue heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of saluation haue I succoured thee: beholde nowe the accepted time, beholde nowe the day of saluation.
For he says – “At the time for acceptance I listened to you, and on the day of deliverance I helped you.” Now is the time for acceptance! Now is the day of deliverance!
3 We giue no occasion of offence in any thing, that our ministerie shoulde not be reprehended.
Never do we put an obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.
4 But in all things we approue our selues as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
No, we are trying to commend ourselves under all circumstances, as God’s assistants should – in many an hour of endurance, in troubles, in hardships, in difficulties,
5 In stripes, in prisons, in tumults, in labours,
in floggings, in imprisonments, in riots, in toils, in sleepless nights, in hunger;
6 By watchings, by fastings, by puritie, by knowledge, by long suffering, by kindnesse, by the holy Ghost, by loue vnfained,
by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindliness, by holiness of spirit, by unfeigned love;
7 By the worde of trueth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousnesse on the right hand, and on the left,
by the message of truth, and by the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
8 By honour, and dishonour, by euill report, and good report, as deceiuers, and yet true:
amid honour and disrepute, amid slander and praise; regarded as deceivers, yet proved to be true;
9 As vnknowen, and yet knowen: as dying, and beholde, we liue: as chastened, and yet not killed:
as unknown, yet well-known; as at death’s door, yet, see, we are living; as chastised, yet not killed;
10 As sorowing, and yet alway reioycing: as poore, and yet make many riche: as hauing nothing, and yet possessing all things.
as saddened, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things!
11 O Corinthians, our mouth is open vnto you: our heart is made large.
We have been speaking freely to you, dear friends in Corinth; we have opened our heart;
12 Ye are not kept strait in vs, but ye are kept strait in your owne bowels.
there is room there for you, yet there is not room, in your love, for us.
13 Nowe for the same recompence, I speake as to my children, Be you also inlarged.
Can you not in return – I appeal to you as I should to children – open your hearts to us?
14 Be not vnequally yoked with the infidels: for what fellowship hath righteousnesse with vnrighteousnesse? and what communion hath light with darkenesse?
Do not enter into inconsistent relations with those who reject the faith. For what partnership can there be between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what has light to do with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath the beleeuer with the infidell?
What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial? Or what can those who accept the faith have in common with those who reject it?
16 And what agreement hath the Temple of God with idols? for ye are the Temple of the liuing God: as God hath said, I will dwell among them, and walke there: and I will be their God, and they shalbe my people.
What agreement can there be between a temple of God and idols? And we are a temple of the living God. That is what God meant when he said – “I will live among them, and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and separate your selues, saith the Lord, and touch none vncleane thing, and I wil receiue you.
Therefore ‘Come out from among the nations, and separate yourselves from them,’ says the Lord, ‘And touch nothing impure; and I will welcome you;
18 And I will be a Father vnto you, and ye shalbe my sonnes and daughters, saith the Lord almightie.
and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,’ says the Lord, the Ruler of all.”
