2 Corinthians 6

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, 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 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.

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

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

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

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

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

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 enter a mismatch with unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common? And what fellowship does light have with darkness?

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 Belial? Or what portion can a believer share with an unbeliever?

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.”

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 them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.

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

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

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