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1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
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2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
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3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
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4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
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5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
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6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
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7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
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8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
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9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
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10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
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11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
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12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
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13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
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14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
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15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
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16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
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17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
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18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
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- 1 And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—
- 2 for He says, “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”—
- 3 giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,
- 4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,
- 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in hunger,
- 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love,
- 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,
- 8 by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true;
- 9 as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,
- 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.
- 11 Our mouth has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our heart is opened wide.
- 12 You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections.
- 13 Now in a like exchange—I speak as to children—open wide to us also.
- 14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
- 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
- 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
- 17 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.
- 18 “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.
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