Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace

1And working together,† we also exhort you⁺ not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For He says:

“In the acceptable time I listened to you,

and in the day of salvation I helped you.Ӡ

Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

3We are giving no cause of stumbling among anyone, so that the ministry should not be blamed, 4but in everything we are commending ourselves as God’s servants: in much endurance, in tribulations, in hardships, in distresses; 5in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleepless nights, in fastings; 6in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness; in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love; 7in the word of truth, in the power of God; through the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8through glory and dishonor, through bad report and good report; as imposters yet true; 9as being unknown yet being well-known; as dying, yet behold, we live; as being disciplined yet not being put to death; 10as being sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing everything.

11Our mouth has been open to you⁺, Corinthians; our heart has been enlarged. 12You⁺ are not restrained by us, but you⁺ are restrained in your⁺ own inner parts. 13Now as the same recompense—I speak as to children—you⁺ be enlarged also.

Do Not Be Unequally Yoked

14Do not become unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15And what harmony has Christ with Beliar?† Or what part to a believer is with an unbeliever? 16And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we† are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them,

and I will walk among them,

and I will be their God,

and they will be My people.Ӡ

17“Therefore come out from their midst and be separate,

says the Lord,

and touch no unclean thing,

and I will receive you⁺.”†

18And:

“I will be for a Father to you⁺,

and you⁺ will be for sons and daughters to Me,

says the Lord Almighty.Ӡ

Footnotes:

1 Or As God's fellow workers
2 Isaiah 49:8 (see also LXX)
15 Scrivener’s TR and GOC Belial
16 BYZ and TR you
16 Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27
17 Isaiah 52:11; see also Ezekiel 20:34, including LXX.
18 See 2 Samuel 7:14.