2 Corinthians 6

1 Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain.

We then, working together with God, make our request to you not to take the grace of God to no purpose.

2 For he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you. In a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

(For he says, I have given ear to you at a good time, and I have been your helper in a day of salvation: see, now is the good time; now is the day of salvation):

3 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,

Giving no cause for trouble in anything, so that no one may be able to say anything against our work;

4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

But in everything making it clear that we are the servants of God, in quiet strength, in troubles, in need, in sorrow,

5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings,

In blows, in prisons, in attacks, in hard work, in watchings, in going without food;

6 in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,

In a clean heart, in knowledge, in long waiting, in being kind, in the Holy Spirit, in true love,

7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

In the true word, in the power of God; with the arms of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true,

By glory and by shame, by an evil name and a good name; as untrue, and still true;

9 as unknown and yet well known, as dying and behold—we live, as punished and not killed,

Unnoted, but still kept fully in mind; as near to death, but still living; as undergoing punishment, but not put to death;

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

As full of sorrow, but ever glad; as poor, but giving wealth to others; as having nothing, but still having all things.

11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.

Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians, our heart is wide.

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

It is not our feelings to you which are narrow, but yours to us.

13 Now in return—I speak as to my children—you also open your hearts.

Now to give me back payment of the same sort (I am talking as to my children), let your hearts be wide open to me.

14 Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

Do not keep company with those who have not faith: for what is there in common between righteousness and evil, or between light and dark?

15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever?

And what agreement is there between Christ and the Evil One? or what part has one who has faith with one who has not?

16 What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people.”

And what agreement has the house of God with images? for we are a house of the living God; even as God has said, I will be living among them, and walking with them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.

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

For which cause, Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and let no unclean thing come near you; and I will take you for myself,

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

And will be a Father to you; and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord, the Ruler of all.