1So, as workers together with him, we beg you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2(For he says, "I have heard you at a time when I welcomed you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." Look, now is the welcome time. Look, now is the day of salvation.)
3We give no offence in anything, so that no one can blame our ministry.
4Instead, in everything we show ourselves to be servants of God: in much patience, in troubles, in hardships, in distresses,
5in beatings, in prisons, in riots, in hard work, in sleepless nights, in times without food;
6by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by love that is not pretended,
7by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8through honour and shame, through bad reports and good reports. We are treated as liars, and yet we are true;
9as unknown, and yet we are well known; as dying, and look, we live; as punished, and yet not killed;
10as sad, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet owning all things.
11People of Corinth, we have spoken openly to you. Our heart is wide open.
12There is no narrowness in us towards you, but there is narrowness in your own hearts.
13Now pay us back in the same way. I speak as to my children: open your hearts wide too.
14Do not be joined in an unequal yoke with those who do not believe. For what does righteousness share with unrighteousness? And what fellowship has light with darkness?
15What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with one who does not believe?
16And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said, "I will live in them, and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
17"So come out from among them, and be separate," says the Lord, "and do not touch what is unclean; and I will receive you,"
18"and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters," says the Lord Almighty.