¹Working together , we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain .

²For he says ,

“At an acceptable time I listened to you .

In a day of salvation I helped you .”

Behold , now is the acceptable time . Behold , now is the day of salvation .

³We give no occasion of stumbling in anything , that our service may not be blamed ,

⁴but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God : in great endurance , in afflictions , in hardships, in distresses ,

⁵in beatings , in imprisonments , in riots, in labours , in watchings, in fastings ,

⁶in pureness, in knowledge , in perseverance , in kindness , in the Holy Spirit , in sincere love,

⁷in the word of truth, in the power of God , by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

⁸by glory and dishonour, by evil report and good report , as deceivers and yet true,

⁹as unknown and yet well known , as dying and behold —we live , as punished and not killed ,

¹⁰as sorrowful yet always rejoicing , as poor yet making many rich , as having nothing and yet possessing all things .

¹¹Our mouth is open to you , Corinthians . Our heart is enlarged .

¹²You are not restricted by us , but you are restricted by your own affections .

¹³Now in return—I speak as to my children —you also open your hearts.

¹⁴Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have ? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness ?

¹⁵What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever?

¹⁶What agreement does a temple of God have with idols ? For you are a temple of the living God . Even as God said , “I will dwell in them and walk in them . I will be their God and they will be my people .”[#Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27]

¹⁷Therefore

“‘Come out from amongst them ,

and be separate,’ says the Lord .

‘Touch no unclean thing .

I will receive you .

¹⁸I will be to you a Father .

You will be to me sons and daughters ,’

says the Lord Almighty .”