New Living Translation

New International Version

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

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

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.

2

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.

3

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.

3

Paul’s Hardships

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

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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.

4

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

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

6

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

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

8

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

9

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

10

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

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

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

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

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

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

18

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

Parallel

New Living Translation

New International Version

2 Corinthians 6

2 Corinthians 6