2.Korinther 6 | King James Version

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour 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 chastened, and not killed;

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

11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

King James Bible (1769). Public Domain. Please note the following exceptions for use and publication in the United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press

New International Reader’s Version

1 We work together with God. So we are asking you not to receive God’s grace and then do nothing with it.

2 He says, ‘When I had mercy on you, I heard you. On the day I saved you, I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time God has mercy. Now is the day he saves.

Paul’s sufferings

3 We don’t put anything in anyone’s way. So no one can find fault with our work for God.

4 Instead, we make it clear that we serve God in every way. We serve him by standing firm in troubles, hard times and suffering.

5 We don’t give up when we are beaten or put in prison. When people stir up trouble in the streets, we continue to serve God. We work hard for him. We go without sleep and food.

6 We remain pure. We understand completely what it means to serve God. We are patient and kind. We serve him in the power of the Holy Spirit. We serve him with true love.

7 We speak the truth. We serve in the power of God. We hold the weapons of godliness in the right hand and in the left.

8 We serve God in times of glory and shame. We serve him whether the news about us is bad or good. We are true to our calling. But people treat us as if we were pretenders.

9 We are known, but people treat us as if we were unknown. We are dying, but we continue to live. We are beaten, but we are not killed.

10 We are sad, but we are always full of joy. We are poor, but we make many people rich. We have nothing, but we own everything.

11 Believers at Corinth, we have spoken freely to you. We have opened our hearts wide to you.

12 We are not holding back our love from you. But you are holding back your love from us.

13 I speak to you as if you were my children. It is only fair that you open your hearts wide to us also.

Paul warns against worshipping false gods

14 Do not be joined to unbelievers. What do right and wrong have in common? Can light and darkness be friends?

15 How can Christ and Satan agree? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

16 How can the temple of the true God and the statues of other gods agree? We are the temple of the living God. God has said, ‘I will live with them. I will walk among them. I will be their God. And they will be my people.’

17 So, ‘Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch anything that is not pure and “clean”. Then I will receive you.’

18 And, ‘I will be your Father. You will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord who rules over all.’

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