Afflictions Of God's Servants

1 We then, working together with God, make our request to you not to take the grace of God to no purpose.

1 And (A)working together with Him, (B)we also urge you not to receive (C)the grace of God in vain—

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

1 Working together(a) with Him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.”

1 Since, then, we are working with God, we plead with you not to accept God's grace in vain.

2 (For he says, I have given ear to you at a good time, and I have been your helper in a day of salvation: see, now is the good time; now is the day of salvation):

2 for He says,(D)At the acceptable time I listened to you,And on the day of salvation I helped you.”Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—

2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

2 For He says:I heard you in an acceptable time,and I helped you in the day of salvation.(A)(b)Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation.(B)

2 For he says, "At the right time I heard you, and on a day of salvation I helped you." Listen, now is really the "right time"! Now is the "day of salvation"!

The Character Of Paul's Ministry

3 Giving no cause for trouble in anything, so that no one may be able to say anything against our work;

3 (E)giving no cause for offense in anything, so that the ministry will not be discredited,

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

3 We give no opportunity for stumbling to anyone, so that the ministry will not be blamed.

3 We do not put an obstacle in anyone's way. Otherwise, fault may be found with our ministry.

4 But in everything making it clear that we are the servants of God, in quiet strength, in troubles, in need, in sorrow,

4 but in everything (F)commending ourselves as (a)(G)servants of God, (H)in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

4 But as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything:by great endurance, by afflictions,by hardship, by difficulties,

4 Instead, in every way we demonstrate that we are God's servants by tremendous endurance in the midst of difficulties, hardships, and calamities;

5 In blows, in prisons, in attacks, in hard work, in watchings, in going without food;

5 in (I)beatings, in imprisonments, in (J)tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in (K)hunger,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

5 by beatings, by imprisonments,(C)by riots, by labors,by sleepless nights, by times of hunger,

5 in beatings, imprisonments, and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger;

6 In a clean heart, in knowledge, in long waiting, in being kind, in the Holy Spirit, in true love,

6 in purity, in (L)knowledge, in (M)patience, in kindness, in the (N)Holy Spirit, in (O)genuine love,

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

6 by purity,(D) by knowledge,(E)by patience,(F) by kindness,(G)by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,(H)

6 with purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness; with the Holy Spirit, genuine love,

7 In the true word, in the power of God; with the arms of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

7 in (P)the word of truth, in (Q)the power of God; by (R)the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

7 by the message of truth,(I)by the power of God;(J)through weapons of righteousnesson the right hand and the left,

7 truthful speech, and divine power; through the weapons of righteousness in the right and left hands;

8 By glory and by shame, by an evil name and a good name; as untrue, and still true;

8 by glory and (S)dishonor, by (T)evil report and good report; regarded as (U)deceivers and yet (V)true;

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

8 through glory(K) and dishonor,through slander and good report;as deceivers yet true;

8 through honor and dishonor; through ill repute and good repute; perceived as deceivers and yet true,

9 Unnoted, but still kept fully in mind; as near to death, but still living; as undergoing punishment, but not put to death;

9 as unknown (b)yet well-known, as (W)dying (c)yet behold, (X)we live; as (d)punished (e)yet not put to death,

9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

9 as unknown yet recognized;as dying and look—we live;as being disciplined yet not killed;

9 as unknown and yet well-known, as dying and yet as you see very much alive, as punished and yet not killed,

10 As full of sorrow, but ever glad; as poor, but giving wealth to others; as having nothing, but still having all things.

10 as (Y)sorrowful yet always (Z)rejoicing, as (AA)poor yet making many rich, as (AB)having nothing (f)yet possessing (AC)all things.

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

10 as grieving yet always rejoicing;(L)as poor yet enriching many;as having nothing yet possessing everything.

10 as sorrowful and yet always rejoicing, as poor and yet enriching many, as having nothing and yet possessing everything.

11 Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians, our heart is wide.

11 (AD)Our mouth (g)has spoken freely to you, O Corinthians, our (AE)heart is opened wide.

11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.

11 We have spoken openly(c) to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide.

11 We have spoken frankly to you, Corinthians. Our hearts are wide open.

12 It is not our feelings to you which are narrow, but yours to us.

12 You are not restrained (h)by us, but (AF)you are restrained in your own (i)affections.

12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.

12 You are not limited by us, but you are limited by your own affections.

12 We have not cut you off, but you have cut off your own feelings toward us.

13 Now to give me back payment of the same sort (I am talking as to my children), let your hearts be wide open to me.

13 Now in a like (AG)exchange—I speak as to (AH)children—open wide to us also.

13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.

13 I speak as to my children. As a proper response, you should also be open to us.

13 Do us a favor I ask you as my children and open wide your hearts.

Do Not Become Unevenly Yoked With Unbelievers

14 Do not keep company with those who have not faith: for what is there in common between righteousness and evil, or between light and dark?

14 (AI)Do not be (j)bound together with (AJ)unbelievers; for what (AK)partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

14 Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness?(M) Or what fellowship does light(N) have with darkness?(O)

14 Stop becoming unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness?

15 And what agreement is there between Christ and the Evil One? or what part has one who has faith with one who has not?

15 Or what (AL)harmony has Christ with (k)Belial, or (l)what has a (AM)believer in common with an (AN)unbeliever?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial?(d) Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

15 What harmony exists between the Messiah and Beliar, or what do a believer and an unbeliever have in common?

16 And what agreement has the house of God with images? for we are a house of the living God; even as God has said, I will be living among them, and walking with them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.

16 Or (AO)what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are (AP)the temple of (AQ)the living God; just as God said,(AR)I will (AS)dwell in them and (AT)walk among them;And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

16 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.

16 And what agreement does God’s sanctuary have with idols?(P) For we(e) are the sanctuary of the living God, as God said:I will dwell among them(Q)and walk among them,and I will be their God,(R)and they will be My people.(S)(f)

16 What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said: "I will live and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people."

17 For which cause, Come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord, and let no unclean thing come near you; and I will take you for myself,

17 (AU)Therefore, (AV)come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.And do not touch what is unclean;And I will welcome you.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

17 Therefore, come out from among themand be separate, says the Lord;do not touch any unclean thing,and I will welcome you.(T)(g)

17 Therefore, "Get away from them and separate yourselves from them," declares the Lord, "and don't touch anything unclean. Then I will welcome you.

18 And will be a Father to you; and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord, the Ruler of all.

18 (AW)And I will be a father to you,And you shall be (AX)sons and daughters to Me,”Says the Lord Almighty.

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

18 I will be a Father(U) to you,and you will be sons(V) and daughters to Me,says the Lord Almighty.(W)(h)

18 I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters," declares the Lord Almighty.

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

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