2 Corinthians 6

1 And also working together we call on [you] that you do not receive the grace of God in vain—

Therefore, as God’s fellow-workers, we also appeal to you not to receive his loving-kindness in vain.

2 for He says, “In an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you, behold, now [is] a well-accepted time; behold, now, a day of salvation.”

For he says — ‘At the time for acceptance I listened to thee, And on the day of deliverance I helped thee.’ Now is the time for acceptance! Now is the day of deliverance!

3 In nothing giving any cause of offense, that the ministry may not be blamed,

Never do we put an obstacle in any one’s way, that no fault may be found with our ministry.

4 but in everything recommending ourselves as God’s servants; in much patience, in tribulations, in necessities, in distresses,

No, we are trying to commend ourselves under all circumstances, as God’s ministers should — in many an hour of endurance, in troubles, in hardships, in difficulties,

5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in insurrections, in labors, in watchings, in fastings,

in floggings, in imprisonments, in riots, in toils, in sleepless nights, in fastings;

6 in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in unhypocritical love,

by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindliness, by holiness of spirit, by unfeigned love;

7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, through the armor of righteousness, on the right 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 through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report, as leading astray, and true;

amid honour and disrepute, amid slander and praise; regarded as deceivers, yet proved to be true;

9 as unknown, and recognized; as dying, and behold, we live; as disciplined, and not put to death;

as unknown, yet well-known; as at death’s door, yet, see, we are living; as chastised, yet not killed;

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

as saddened, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things!

11 Our mouth has been open to you, O Corinthians, our heart has been enlarged!

We have been speaking freely to you, men of Corinth; we have opened our heart;

12 You are not restricted in us, and you are restricted in your [own] yearnings,

there is room there for you, yet there is not room, in your love, for us.

13 and [as] a repayment of the same kind (as to children I say [it]), be enlarged—also you!

Can you not in return — I appeal to you as I should to children — open your hearts to us?

14 Do not become yoked with others—unbelievers, for what partaking [is there] to righteousness and lawlessness?

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 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 can those who accept the Faith have in common with those who reject it?

16 And what agreement to the temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God, according as God said, “I will dwell in them, and will walk among [them], and I will be their God, and they will be My people,

What agreement can thee 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 dwell among them, and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 for this reason, come forth out of the midst of them, and be separated, says the LORD, and do not touch an unclean thing, and I will receive 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 for a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to Me, says the LORD Almighty.”

and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters,” says the Lord, the Ruler of all.’