2 Corinthians 6
Paul urges the Corinthians not to receive the grace of God in vain and describes the hardships of his ministry — in afflictions, labors, watchings, and fastings. He commands them to be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers, for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness, or what communion has light with darkness.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. | As workers together with Him, we plead with you also not to receive the grace of God in vain. |
| 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.) | For He says, "In the acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you." Now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. |
| 3 | Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: | We give no offense in anything, so that our ministry may not be blamed; |
| 4 | But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, | but in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, |
| 5 | In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; | in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in sleepless nights, in fastings; |
| 6 | By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, | by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by sincere love, |
| 7 | By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, | by the word of truth, by the power of God, with the armor of righteousness for the right hand and the left, |
| 8 | By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; | through honor and dishonor, through bad report and good report — regarded as deceivers, and yet true; |
| 9 | As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; | as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and yet we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; |
| 10 | As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. | as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. |
| 11 | O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. | O Corinthians, we have spoken openly to You, our heart is wide open. |
| 12 | Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. | You are not held back by us; You are held back by Your own affections. |
| 13 | Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. | Now in fair exchange — I speak as to my children — open wide Your hearts also. |
| 14 | Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? | Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers — for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion has light with darkness? |
| 15 | And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? | And what concord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? |
| 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. | And 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; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." |
| 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, | Therefore "come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch the unclean thing, and I will receive You. |
| 18 | And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. | I will be a Father to You, and You shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." |