2 Corinthians 6

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

So working together we really urge you not to receive God's grace in vain,

2 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!

for He says: “At a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I aided you.” Well, right now is a really favorable time; indeed, the day of salvation is now!

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

(We give no occasion for offense in anything, that the ministry not be faulted;

4 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,

rather we commend ourselves as God's servants in every way with great endurance—in afflictions, in hardships, in distress,

5 in floggings, in imprisonments, in riots, in toils, in sleepless nights, in hunger;

in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in hard work, in sleepless nights, in fastings;

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

by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,

7 by the message of truth, and by the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

by truthful speech, by God's power, with the weapons of the righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

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

through glory and dishonor, through defamation and good repute; as ‘deceivers’ and true,

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

as unknown and well known, as dying and we live on, as chastened and not killed;

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

as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing everything!)

11 We have been speaking freely to you, dear friends in Corinth; we have opened our heart;

O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is open wide.

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

You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your affections.

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

Now in return for the same (I speak as to my children), you also be wide open.

14 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?

Do not enter a mismatch with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? And what fellowship does light have with darkness?

15 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?

And what agreement is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion can a believer share with an unbeliever?

16 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.

Further, what agreement can a temple of God have with idols? Because you are a temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will dwell in them and walk among them; I will be their God and they will by my people.”

17 Therefore “Come out from among the nations, and separate yourselves from them,” says the Lord, “And touch nothing impure; and I will welcome you;

Therefore, “Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord, “Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”

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

And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”