2 Corinthians 6:1-13 - Afflictions Of God's Servants

¹ Working together with Him, we strongly urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain [by turning away from sound doctrine and His merciful kindness]. ² For He says,“At the acceptable time (the time of grace) I listened to you,
And I helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation”—

³ we put no obstruction in anyone’s path, so that the ministry will not be discredited, ⁴ but we commend ourselves in every way as servants of God: in great endurance, in sufferings, in hardships, in distresses, ⁵ in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in sleepless nights, in hunger, ⁶ in purity and sincerity, in knowledge and spiritual insight, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in genuine love, ⁷ in [speaking] the word of truth, in the power of God; by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand [like holding the sword to attack] and for the left [like holding the shield to defend], ⁸ amid glory and dishonor; by evil report and good report; branded as deceivers and yet [vindicated as] truthful; ⁹ as unknown [to the world], yet well-known [by God and His people]; as dying, yet we live; as punished, yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet bestowing riches on many; as having nothing, yet possessing all things.

¹¹ We are speaking freely to you, Corinthians [we are keeping nothing back], and our heart is opened wide. ¹² There is no limit to our affection for you, but you are limited in your own affection [for us]. ¹³ Now in the same way as a fair exchange [for our love toward you]—I am speaking as [I would] to children—open wide [your hearts] to us also.