1 - As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain.

2 - For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

3 - We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

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

5 - in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;

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

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

8 - through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;

9 - known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;

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

11 - We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.

12 - We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.

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

14 - Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

15 - What harmony is there between Christ and Belial Greek [Beliar], a variant of [Belial]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

16 - What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

17 - Therefore, "Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you."

18 - And, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."