2 Corinthians 6

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

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

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.

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!

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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.”

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.”

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

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

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

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