2 Corinthians 6

Afflictions of God’s Servants

6Now because we^* are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ²For he says,

“At the acceptable time I heard you,

and in the day of salvation I helped you.”^a

Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation! ³We are giving no one an occasion for taking offense in anything, in order that our ministry will not have fault found with it, ⁴but commending ourselves as servants of God in every way, in much endurance, in afflictions, in distresses, in difficulties, ⁵in beatings, in prisons, in disturbances, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in going hungry, ⁶in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love without hypocrisy, ⁷in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and left hand, ⁸through glory and dishonor, through slander and good repute, regarded as deceivers and yet truthful, ⁹as unknown and yet known completely, as dying, and behold, we go on living, as disciplined, and yet not put to death, ¹⁰as grieving, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and possessing everything.

¹¹We have spoken freely and openly^b to you, Corinthians; our heart is open wide. ¹²You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your affections. ¹³Now the same way in exchange (I am speaking as to children), you open wide your hearts also.

Do Not Become Unevenly Yoked with Unbelievers

¹⁴Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers, for what participation is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? ¹⁵And what agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what share does a believer have with an unbeliever? ¹⁶And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said,

“I will live in^c them and will walk about among them,

and I will be their God and they will be my people.”^d

¹⁷Therefore “come out from their midst

and be separate,” says the Lord,

“and do not touch what is unclean,^e

and I will welcome you,^f

¹⁸and I will be a father to you,

and you will be sons and daughters to me,”^g

says the all-powerful Lord.