| 1 | But, as a help to you, we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vain. |
| 2 | For he says: "In a favorable time, I heeded you; and on the day of salvation, I helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. |
| 3 | May we never give offense to anyone, so that our ministry may not be disparaged. |
| 4 | But in all things, let us exhibit ourselves as ministers of God with great patience: through tribulation, difficulties, and distress; |
| 5 | despite wounds, imprisonment, and rebellion; with hard work, vigilance, and fasting; |
| 6 | by chastity, knowledge, and longsuffering; in pleasantness, in the Holy Spirit, and in unfeigned charity; |
| 7 | with the Word of truth, with the power of God, and with the armor of justice to the right and to the left; |
| 8 | through honor and dishonor, despite good reports and bad, whether seen as deceivers or truth-tellers, whether ignored or acknowledged; |
| 9 | as if dying and yet truly alive; as if chastised and yet not subdued; |
| 10 | as if sorrowful and yet always rejoicing; as if needy and yet enriching many; as if having nothing and possessing everything. |
| 11 | Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians; our heart is enlarged. |
| 12 | You are not narrowed by us, but it is by your own inner selves that you are narrowed. |
| 13 | But since we have the same recompense, (I am speaking as if to my own sons), you, too, should be enlarged. |
| 14 | Do not choose to bear the yoke with unbelievers. For how can justice be a participant with iniquity? Or how can the fellowship of light be a participant with darkness? |
| 15 | And how can Christ join together with Belial? Or what part do the faithful have with the unfaithful? |
| 16 | And what consensus does the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, just as God says: "I will dwell with them, and I will walk among them. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. |
| 17 | Because of this, you must depart from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean. |
| 18 | Then I will accept you. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty." |
