1 Working together, we entreat also that
you do not 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.
3 We give no occasion of stumbling in
anything, that our service may not be
blamed,
4 but in everything commending ourselves
as servants of God: in great endurance,
in afflictions, in hardships, in
distresses,
5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots,
in labours, in watchings, in fastings,
6 in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance,
in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in
sincere love,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of
God, by the armour of righteousness on the
right hand and on the left,
8 by glory and dishonour, by evil report
and good report, as deceivers and yet true,
9 as unknown and yet well known, as
dying and behold—we live, as punished
and not killed,
10 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, Corinthians.
Our heart is enlarged.
12 You are not restricted by us, but you
are restricted by your own affections.
13 Now in return—I speak as to my children—
you also open your hearts.
14 Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers,
for what fellowship do righteousness
and iniquity have? Or 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?
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.”*
17 Therefore “ ‘Come out from amongst them,
and be separate,’ says the Lord.
‘Touch no unclean thing.
I will receive you.*
18 I will be to you a Father.
You will be to me sons and daughters,’
says the Lord Almighty.”*
