New International Version

New Living Translation

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

As God’s partners,a we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.

For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”a
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

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For God says,
“At just the right time, I heard you.
On the day of salvation, I helped you.”b
Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.

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Paul’s Hardships

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

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Paul’s Hardships

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.

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

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In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.

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

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We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.

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

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We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us,c and by our sincere love.

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

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We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.

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

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We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors.

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

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We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed.

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

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Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

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

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Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you.

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

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There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us.

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

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I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

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Warning Against Idolatry

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

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The Temple of the Living God

Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?

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What harmony is there between Christ and Belialb? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

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What harmony can there be between Christ and the devild? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever?

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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.”c

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And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.e

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Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”d

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Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.f

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And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”

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And I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the LORD Almighty.g”

Parallel

New International Version

New Living Translation

2 Corinthians 6

2 Corinthians 6