1Working together with him, then, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2For he says, “At an acceptable time I heard you, and in a day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the well-accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3We give no occasion for stumbling in anything, so that the ministry may not be discredited,
4but in everything commending ourselves as God’s servants: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in sleepless nights, in times of hunger;
6in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
7in the word of truth, in the power of God; through the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
8through glory and dishonor, through slander and good report; regarded as deceivers, yet truthful;
9as unknown, yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as being disciplined, yet not put to death;
10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.
11Our mouth has spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide.
12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections.
13Now in fair exchange — I speak as to children — you also open wide your hearts.
14Do not become mismatched partners with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
15What harmony has Christ with Beliar, or what share has a believer with an unbeliever?
16And what agreement has a temple of God with idols? For we are a temple of the living God, just as God said: “I will dwell among them and walk about among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
17“Therefore come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord, “and touch nothing unclean; and I will welcome you,”
18“and I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me,” says the Lord Almighty.
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