1 Working together, we entreat also that you do not receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,
"At an acceptable time I listened to you.
In a day of salvation I helped you."
Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed, 4 but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God: in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, 6 in pureness, in knowledge, in perseverance, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by glory and dishonor, 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 punished and not killed, 10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing and yet possessing all things.
11 Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return—I speak as to my children—you also open your hearts.
14 Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people." 17 Therefore
"‘Come out from among them,
and be separate,’ says the Lord.
‘Touch no unclean thing.
I will receive you.
18 I will be to you a Father.
You will be to me sons and daughters,’
says 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.