2 Corinthians 6

1 But, as a help to you, we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

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

2 For he says: “In a favorable time, I heeded you; and on the day of salvation, I helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

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.

3 May we never give offense to anyone, so that our ministry may not be disparaged.

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

4 But in all things, let us exhibit ourselves as ministers of God with great patience: through tribulation, difficulties, and distress;

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

5 despite wounds, imprisonment, and rebellion; with hard work, vigilance, and fasting;

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

6 by chastity, knowledge, and longsuffering; in pleasantness, in the Holy Spirit, and in unfeigned charity;

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

7 with the Word of truth, with the power of God, and with the armor of justice to the right and to the left;

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

8 through honor and dishonor, despite good reports and bad, whether seen as deceivers or truth-tellers, whether ignored or acknowledged;

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

9 as if dying and yet truly alive; as if chastised and yet not subdued;

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

10 as if sorrowful and yet always rejoicing; as if needy and yet enriching many; as if having nothing and possessing everything.

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

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

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

12 You are not narrowed by us, but it is by your own inner selves that you are narrowed.

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

13 But since we have the same recompense, (I am speaking as if to my own sons), you, too, should be enlarged.

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

14 Do not choose to bear the yoke with unbelievers. For how can justice be a participant with iniquity? Or how can the fellowship of light be a participant with darkness?

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

15 And how can Christ join together with Belial? Or what part do the faithful have with the unfaithful?

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

16 And what consensus does the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, just as God says: “I will dwell with them, and I will walk among them. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

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.”

17 Because of this, you must depart from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean.

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

18 Then I will accept you. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

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