1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. 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.) 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned, 7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged. 12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 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. 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, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

1 En as medewerkers vermaan ons julle ook dat julle die genade van God nie tevergeefs mag ontvang nie.

2 Want Hy sê: In die tyd van die welbehae het Ek jou verhoor, en in die dag van heil het Ek jou gehelp. Kyk, nou is dit die tyd van die welbehae; kyk, nou is die dag van heil.

3 Ons lê nie die minste hindernis in die weg nie, sodat die bediening nie beklad mag word nie;

4 maar in alles beveel ons ons aan as dienaars van God, met baie geduld, in verdrukkinge, in node, in benoudhede;

5 in slae, in gevangenskappe, in oproere, in arbeid, in slapelose nagte, in hongerly;

6 in reinheid, in kennis, in lankmoedigheid, in vriendelikheid, in die Heilige Gees, in ongeveinsde liefde;

7 in die woord van waarheid, in die krag van God, deur die wapens van die geregtigheid in die regter-- en linkerhand;

8 deur eer en oneer, deur slegte en goeie gerug, as verleiers en tog waaragtig;

9 as onbekendes en tog goed bekend, as sterwendes en kyk, ons lewe, as getugtig en tog nie gedood nie;

10 as bedroefdes, maar altyd opgeruimd; as armes, maar wat baie ander ryk maak; as mense wat niks het nie en tog alles besit.

11 Ons mond het teenoor julle oopgegaan, Korinthiërs, ons hart het verruim geword.

12 Nie in ons het julle dit te nou nie, maar in jul binneste het julle dit te nou.

13 Maar by wyse van vergoeding -- ek praat soos met kinders -- moet julle ook verruim word.

14 Moenie in dieselfde juk trek saam met ongelowiges nie, want watter deelgenootskap het die geregtigheid met die ongeregtigheid, en watter gemeenskap het die lig met die duisternis?

15 En watter ooreenstemming het Christus met B,lial, of watter aandeel het die gelowige met die ongelowige?

16 Of watter ooreenkoms het die tempel van God met die afgode? Want julle is die tempel van die lewende God, soos God gespreek het: Ek sal in hulle woon en onder hulle wandel, en Ek sal hulle God wees, en hulle sal vir My 'n volk wees.

17 Daarom, gaan onder hulle uit en sonder julle af, spreek die Here; en raak nie aan wat onrein is nie, en Ek sal julle aanneem;

18 en Ek sal vir julle 'n Vader wees, en julle sal vir My seuns en dogters wees, spreek die Here, die Almagtige.