2 Corinthians

Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace

1As God’s fellow workers,then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.

2For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you,and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!

3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.

4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;

5in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger;

6in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;

7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;

8through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine;

9unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;

10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide.

12It is not our affection, but yours, that is restrained.

13As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

Do Not Be Unequally Yoked

14Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

16What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with themand walk among them,and I will be their God,and they will be My people.”

17“Therefore come out from among themand be separate, says the Lord.Touch no unclean thing,and I will receive you.”

18And: “I will be a Father to you,and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

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

2For 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.

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

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

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

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

7in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

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

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

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

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

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

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

14Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

15What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever?

16What 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.”

17Therefore“‘Come out from among them,and be separate,’ says the Lord.‘Touch no unclean thing.I will receive you.

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