6:1 And working together {with Him,} we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain-- |
6:2 for He says, "AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU. Behold, now is "THE ACCEPTABLE TIME," behold, now is "THE DAY OF SALVATION"--" |
6:3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited, |
6:4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, |
6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger, |
6:6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, |
6:7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, |
6:8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; {regarded} as deceivers and yet true; |
6:9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, |
6:10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things. |
6:11 Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide. |
6:12 You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. |
6:13 Now in a like exchange--I speak as to children--open wide {to us} also. |
6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? |
6:15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? |
6:16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. |
6:17 "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE, says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you." |
6:18 "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me, Says the Lord Almighty." |