1 As those who work together with him, we also appeal to you not to receive the grace of God to no purpose.
2 For he says, "At a welcome time I heard you, and on a day of salvation I came to your aid." Look, now is the truly welcome time; look, now is the day of salvation.
3 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, so that the ministry may not be blamed,
4 but in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, in much endurance, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 in stripes, in prisons, in tumults, in labors, in sleepless nights, in fastings,
6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by love without pretense,
7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
8 through glory and dishonor, through evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and look, we live; as chastened, and yet not put to death;
10 as sorrowing, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 Our mouth is open toward you, Corinthians; our heart is enlarged.
12 There is no lack of room for you in us, but you are cramped in your own affections.
13 Now in return (I speak as to children), be enlarged, you also.
14 Do not become unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness, and what fellowship has light with darkness?
15 And what concord has Christ with Belial, or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 And what agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God, as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people."
17 Therefore "Go out from their midst and be set apart," says the Lord, "and touch nothing unclean; and I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me," says the Lord Almighty.