2 Corinthians 6

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

Working together with him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God 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, “In a favorable time I paid attention to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Look, now is the favorable time. Look, now is the day of salvation.

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

We do not place a stumbling block in front of anyone, for we do not wish our ministry to be discredited.

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

Instead, we prove ourselves by all our actions, that we are God's servants. We are his servants in much endurance, affliction, distress, hardship,

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

beatings, imprisonments, riots, in hard work, in sleepless nights, in hunger,

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

in purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine 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 are his servants in the word of truth, in the power of God. We have the armor of righteousness for the right hand and for the left.

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

We work in honor and dishonor, in slander and praise. We are accused of being deceitful and yet we are truthful.

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

We work as if we were unknown and we are still well known. We work as dying and—see!—we are still living. We work as being punished for our actions but not as condemned to death.

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

We work as sorrowful, but we are always rejoicing. We work as poor, but we are making many rich. We work as having nothing and yet as possessing all things.

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

We have spoken the whole truth to you, Corinthians, and our heart is wide open.

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

You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own hearts.

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

Now in fair exchange—I speak as to children—open yourselves wide also.

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 be tied together with unbelievers. For what association does righteousness have with lawlessness? For 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?

What agreement can Christ have with Beliar? Or what share does a believer have together 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.”

And what agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will dwell among 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.

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

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

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