2 Corinthians 6

New Matthew Bible

An exhortation to receive the word of God with thankfulness and amendment of life. The diligence of Paul in the gospel, and how he warns them to avoid the company of the heathen.

6 We as helpers therefore exhort you, do not receive the grace of God in vain. ² For he says: I have heard you in a favoured time, and in the day of salvation I have succoured you. Behold, now is that well-favoured time; behold, now is that day of salvation. ³ Let us give no one occasion for evil, so that in our service no fault may be found, ⁴ but in all things let us behave ourselves as the ministers of God in much patience – in afflictions, in hardship, in anguish, ⁵ in stripes, in prison, in strife, in labour, in sleeplessness, in hunger; ⁶ in pureness, in knowledge, in longsuffering, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love unfeigned, ⁷ in the words of truth; in the power of God, with the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left; ⁸ in honour and dishonour, in evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true, ⁹ as unknown and yet known. As dying, and behold, we live yet; as chastened, and not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowing, and yet always merry; as poor, and yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

¹¹ O ye Corinthians, we pursue you with many words. Our hearts yearn to you. ¹² You are not shut out in us, but are shut away in your own selves. ¹³ I promise you like reward with me, as to my children. So set yourselves free, ¹⁴ and bear not a stranger’s yoke with the unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? What communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵ What concord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has he who believes with an infidel? ¹⁶ How does the temple of God agree with idols? And you are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell among them and walk among them, and will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ Therefore: Come out from among them, and separate yourselves (says the Lord), and touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you, ¹⁸ and will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.