| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. | 1Since, then, we are working with God, we plead with you not to accept God's grace in vain. |
| 2For he says, "I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you." Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation! | 2For he says, "At the right time I heard you, and on a day of salvation I helped you." Listen, now is really the "right time"! Now is the "day of salvation"! |
| 3We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry. | 3We do not put an obstacle in anyone's way. Otherwise, fault may be found with our ministry. |
| 4But as God's servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses, | 4Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are God's servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities; |
| 5in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger, | 5in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger; |
| 6by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love, | 6with purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; with the Holy Spirit, genuine love, |
| 7by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left, | 7truthful speech, and divine power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right and left hands; |
| 8through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true; | 8through honor and dishonor; through ill repute and good repute; perceived as deceivers and yet true, |
| 9as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet--see!--we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed; | 9as unknown and yet well-known, as dying and yet—as you see—very much alive, as punished and yet not killed, |
| 10as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. | 10as sorrowful and yet always rejoicing, as poor and yet enriching many, as having nothing and yet possessing everything. |
| 11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you. | 11We have spoken frankly to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are wide open. |
| 12Our affection for you is not restricted, but you are restricted in your affections for us. | 12We have not cut you off, but you have cut off your own feelings toward us. |
| 13Now as a fair exchange--I speak as to my children--open wide your hearts to us also. | 13Do us a favor—I ask you as my children—and open wide your hearts. |
| 14Do not become partners with those who do not believe, for what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship does light have with darkness? | 14Stop becoming unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness? |
| 15And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share in common with an unbeliever? | 15What harmony exists between the Messiah and Beliar, or what do a believer and an unbeliever have in common? |
| 16And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, "I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." | 16What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: "I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people." |
| 17Therefore "come out from their midst, and be separate," says the Lord, "and touch no unclean thing, and I will welcome you, | 17Therefore, "Get away from them and separate yourselves from them," declares the Lord, "and don't touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you. |
| 18and I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters," says the All-Powerful Lord. | 18I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters," declares the Lord Almighty. |
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