Paul’s Hardships and God’s Grace 1 WBS We then, as co-workers with him , beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. BSB BSB: As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
2 WBS (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 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 WBS Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: BSB BSB: We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
4 WBS But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, BSB BSB: Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships, and calamities;
5 WBS In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; BSB BSB: in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in labor, sleepless nights, and hunger;
6 WBS By pureness, by knowledge, by long-suffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by love unfeigned, BSB BSB: in purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
7 WBS By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 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 WBS By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; BSB BSB: through glory and dishonor, slander and praise; viewed as imposters, yet genuine;
9 WBS As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; BSB BSB: unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we live on; punished, yet not killed;
10 WBS As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. BSB BSB: sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 WBS O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open to you, our heart is enlarged. BSB BSB: We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are open wide.
12 WBS Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. BSB BSB: It is not our affection, but yours, that is restrained.
13 WBS Now for a recompense in the same (I speak as to my children,) be ye also enlarged. BSB BSB: As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Do Not Be Unequally Yoked 14 WBS Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 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 WBS And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? BSB BSB: What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?
16 WBS 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. 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 WBS Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I will receive 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 WBS And I will be a Father to you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. BSB BSB: And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”