2 Corinthians 6

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

And you also we, as God's fellow workers, entreat not to be found to have received His grace to no purpose.

2 (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):

For He says, "At a time of welcome I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have succoured you." Now is the time of loving welcome! Now is the day of salvation!

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

We endeavour to give people no cause for stumbling in anything, lest the work we are doing should fall into discredit.

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

On the contrary, as God's servants, we seek their full approval--by unwearied endurance, by afflictions, by distress, by helplessness;

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

by floggings, by imprisonments; by facing riots, by toil, by sleepless watching, by hunger and thirst;

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

by purity of life, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love;

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

by the proclamation of the truth, by the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness, wielded in both hands;

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

through honour and ignominy, through calumny and praise. We are looked upon as impostors and yet are true men;

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

as obscure persons, and yet are well known; as on the point of death, and yet, strange to tell, we live; as under God's discipline, and yet we are not deprived of life;

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

as sad, but we are always joyful; as poor, but we bestow wealth on many; as having nothing, and yet we securely possess all things.

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

O Corinthians, our lips are unsealed to you: our heart is expanded.

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

There is no narrowness in our love to you: the narrowness is in your own feelings.

13 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.

And in just requital--I speak as to my children--let your hearts expand also.

14 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?

Do not come into close association with unbelievers, like oxen yoked with asses. For what is there in common between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what partnership has light with darkness?

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

Where can harmony between Christ and Belial be found? Or what participation has a believer with an unbeliever?

16 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.

And what compact has the Temple of God with idols? For we are the Temple of the ever-living God; as God has said, "I will dwell among them, and walk about among them; and will be their God, and it is they who shall be My people."

17 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,

Therefore, "'Come out from among them and separate yourselves,' says the Lord, 'and touch nothing impure; and I will receive you, and will be a Father to you,

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

and you shall be My sons and daughters,' says the Lord the Ruler of all."