2 Corinthians 6

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

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

2 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!

for he says, "At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I helped you." Look, now is the "acceptable time." Look, now is the "day of salvation."

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

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

4 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.

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

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

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

6 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.

in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Ruach ha-Kodesh, in sincere love,

7 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.

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

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

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

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

as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and look, we live; as punished, and not killed;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide.

14 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?

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

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

What agreement has Messiah with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?

16 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.”

What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For we are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

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

Therefore, "'Go out from their midst, and be separate,' says the Lord, 'and touch no unclean thing,' and I will receive you.

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

"And I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters," says the Lord Almighty.