Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace 1 UDB As we work together with God, we beg you to make good use of the gift of God's undeserved love for you and not waste it. BSB BSB: As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
2 UDB For God said, "At a time when I displayed my loving mercy, I listened to you, And when I completed the work of my salvation, I helped you." Look, this is the day when God is having mercy on you; this is the day that he is rescuing you. BSB BSB: For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!
3 UDB We certainly do not want to give anyone reason to do wrong, because we want no one to accuse us of preaching the good news in order to encourage evildoing. BSB BSB: We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
4 UDB We have proved again and again that we are God's true servants. We endure great suffering, we face with courage people who hurt us, and we live through hard times. BSB BSB: Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;
5 UDB People have beaten us very badly, people have locked us up in prisons, we were the cause for people to riot, we have done hard physical labor, we have endured many long nights without sleep, and many times we have had only a little food to eat. BSB BSB: in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger;
6 UDB But in all this our lives are pure, our knowledge is deep, and we are able to wait until God ends our suffering. We know how kind Christ is to us, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and we love others. BSB BSB: in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
7 UDB We live according to God's true Word, and we have God's power. By means of Christ, God has put us right with himself. This is the truth that we continuously believe; it is like armor that a soldier wears and like weapons for both of his hands. BSB BSB: in truthful speech and in the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
8 UDB Sometimes people honor us; at other times, they dishonor us. Sometimes they say many evil things about us; at other times, they praise us. They accuse us of lying, even though we tell the truth. BSB BSB: through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine;
9 UDB We live like persons whom nobody knows, but some people know us very well. Some try to kill us for announcing the message about Christ, even though no one legally ever condemns us to death. BSB BSB: unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;
10 UDB We live with great sorrow, but we always rejoice. We live as some of the poorest people, but we have the treasure of the good news that makes many rich. You can see that we own nothing, but the truth is that all things belong to us. BSB BSB: sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 UDB We have spoken to you very openly and honestly, fellow believers at Corinth. We have freely shown you that we love you. BSB BSB: We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide.
12 UDB We are not the ones holding back, but you seem to be reluctant to show that you love us. BSB BSB: It is not our affection, but yours, that is restrained.
13 UDB It would be a fair exchange—I am speaking as to children—for you to love us in return. BSB BSB: As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked 14 UDB Do not work in unsuitable ways with people who do not trust Christ. What do people who live by God's measure and rules have in common with those who break his laws and do what they want? Darkness and light cannot be together. BSB BSB: Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
15 UDB How can Christ agree in any way with Belial, the devil? What does a person who trusts in God have in common with some other person who does not trust in God? BSB BSB: What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16 UDB How right would it be to bring pagan idols into the temple of God? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: "I will have my home among my people. I will live my life among them. I will be their God and they will be my people." BSB BSB: What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
17 UDB The scriptures therefore say: "Come out from among the unbelievers and be separate from them," says the Lord; "Do not handle anything that makes you filthy and unable to worship me, and I will open my arms and welcome you, BSB BSB: “Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
18 UDB and I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters," says the all-powerful Lord. BSB BSB: And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.