1 I appeal to you too, as a worker with God, do not receive the grace of God in vain.
2 (He saith, I have heard you in the time of favour, and helped you on the day of salvation. Well, here is the time of favour, here is the day of salvation.)
3 I put no obstacle in the path of any, so that my ministry may not be discredited;
4 I prove myself at all points a true minister of God, by great endurance, by suffering, by troubles, by calamities,
5 by lashes, by imprisonment; mobbed, toiling, sleepless, starving;
6 with innocence, insight, patience, kindness, the holy Spirit, unaffected love,
7 true words, the power of God; with the weapons of integrity for attack or for defence,
8 amid honour and dishonour, amid evil report and good report, an 'impostor' but honest,
9 'unknown' but well-known, dying but here I am alive, chastened but not killed,
10 grieved but always glad, a 'pauper', but the means of wealth to many, without a penny but possessed of all.
11 O Corinthians, I am keeping nothing back from you; my heart is wide open for you.
12 'Restraint'? ??that lies with you, not me.
13 A fair exchange now, as the children say! Open your hearts wide to me.
14 [Keep out of all incongruous ties with unbelievers. What have righteousness and iniquity in common, or how can light associate with darkness?
15 What harmony can there be between Christ and Beliar, or what business has a believer with an unbeliever?
16 What compact can there be between God's temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God ??as God has said, I will dwell and move among them, I will be their God and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore come away from them, separate, saith the Lord, touch not what is unclean; then I will receive you,
18 I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord almighty.