2 Corinthians 6

1 As workers together with God we also plead with you not to make your acceptance of God's grace worthless.

And working together also we call upon [you] that ye receive not in vain the grace of God —

2 Just as God said, “At the right time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I rescued you.” Believe me: now is the right time! Now is the day of salvation!

for He saith, 'In an acceptable time I did hear thee, and in a day of salvation I did help thee, lo, now [is] a well-accepted time; lo, now, a day of salvation,' —

3 We don't put anything in anyone's way that would trip them up, making sure the work we do won't be criticized.

in nothing giving any cause of offence, that the ministration may be not blamed,

4 Instead we try to demonstrate we are good servants of God in every way we can. With a great deal of patience we put up with all kinds of trouble, hardship, and distress.

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

5 We have been beaten up, thrown into prison, and attacked by mobs. We have been worked to the bone, suffering sleepless nights and hunger.

in stripes, in imprisonments, in insurrections, in labours, in watchings, in fastings,

6 We demonstrate who we are by living blameless lives in the knowledge of God, with a great deal of patience, being kind and filled with the Holy Spirit, showing sincere love.

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

7 We speak truthfully, living in the power of God. Our weapons consist of what is true and right; we attack with our right hand and we defend with our left.

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

8 We continue whether we are honored or dishonored, whether we are cursed or praised. People call us frauds but we tell the truth.

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

9 We are disregarded, even though we are well-known; given up for dead, but we're still alive; lashed, but not killed.

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

10 Seen as miserable, we are always rejoicing; as poor, but we make many rich; as destitute, but we own everything!

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

11 I've been speaking bluntly, my Corinthian friends, loving you with a big heart!

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

12 We haven't kept our love from you, but you have kept your love from us.

ye are not straitened in us, and ye are straitened in your [own] bowels,

13 Please respond in the same way, as if you were my children, and be big-hearted!

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

14 Don't join together with people who don't believe—for what connection does goodness have with wickedness? What do light and darkness have in common?

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

15 How could Christ and the Devil ever agree? How could a believer and an unbeliever share together?

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

16 What compromise could the Temple of God make with idols? For we are a temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

and 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 [them], and I will be their God, and they shall be My people,

17 “So leave them, and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don't touch anything that is unclean, and I will accept you.”

wherefore, 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,

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

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