| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. | 1Working together with him, we also appeal to you, "Don't receive the grace of God in vain." |
| 2For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. | 2For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation! |
| 3We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. | 3We are not giving anyone an occasion for offense, so that the ministry will not be blamed. |
| 4But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, | 4Instead, as God's ministers, we commend ourselves in everything: by great endurance, by afflictions, by hardships, by difficulties, |
| 5in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; | 5by beatings, by imprisonments, by riots, by labors, by sleepless nights, by times of hunger, |
| 6by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, | 6by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, |
| 7by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, | 7by the word of truth, by the power of God; through weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left, |
| 8by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; | 8through glory and dishonor, through slander and good report; regarded as deceivers, yet true; |
| 9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; | 9as unknown, yet recognized; as dying, yet see--we live; as being disciplined, yet not killed; |
| 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. | 10as grieving, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet enriching many; as having nothing, yet possessing everything. |
| 11O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. | 11We have spoken openly to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide. |
| 12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. | 12We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. |
| 13Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. | 13I speak as to my children; as a proper response, open your heart to us. |
| 14Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? | 14Don't 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? |
| 15And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? | 15What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? |
| 16And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” | 16And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. |
| 17Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” | 17Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. |
| 18“I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.” | 18And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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