1<\/sup>But, as a help to you, we exhort you not to receive the grace of God in vain.<\/span> <\/p>\n 2<\/sup>For he says: “In a favorable time, I heeded you; and on the day of salvation, I helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.<\/span> <\/p>\n 3<\/sup>May we never give offense to anyone, so that our ministry may not be disparaged.<\/span> <\/p>\n 4<\/sup>But in all things, let us exhibit ourselves as ministers of God with great patience: through tribulation, difficulties, and distress;<\/span> <\/p>\n 5<\/sup>despite wounds, imprisonment, and rebellion; with hard work, vigilance, and fasting;<\/span> <\/p>\n 6<\/sup>by chastity, knowledge, and longsuffering; in pleasantness, in the Holy Spirit, and in unfeigned charity;<\/span> <\/p>\n 7<\/sup>with the Word of truth, with the power of God, and with the armor of justice to the right and to the left;<\/span> <\/p>\n 8<\/sup>through honor and dishonor, despite good reports and bad, whether seen as deceivers or truth-tellers, whether ignored or acknowledged;<\/span> <\/p>\n 9<\/sup>as if dying and yet truly alive; as if chastised and yet not subdued;<\/span> <\/p>\n 10<\/sup>as if sorrowful and yet always rejoicing; as if needy and yet enriching many; as if having nothing and possessing everything.<\/span> <\/p>\n 11<\/sup>Our mouth is open to you, O Corinthians; our heart is enlarged.<\/span> <\/p>\n 12<\/sup>You are not narrowed by us, but it is by your own inner selves that you are narrowed.<\/span> <\/p>\n 13<\/sup>But since we have the same recompense, (I am speaking as if to my own sons), you, too, should be enlarged.<\/span> <\/p>\n 14<\/sup>Do not choose to bear the yoke with unbelievers. For how can justice be a participant with iniquity? Or how can the fellowship of light be a participant with darkness?<\/span> <\/p>\n 15<\/sup>And how can Christ join together with Belial? Or what part do the faithful have with the unfaithful?<\/span> <\/p>\n 16<\/sup>And what consensus does the temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, just as God says: “I will dwell with them, and I will walk among them. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.<\/span> <\/p>\n 17<\/sup>Because of this, you must depart from their midst and be separate, says the Lord. And do not touch what is unclean.<\/span> <\/p>\n 18<\/sup>Then I will accept you. And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”<\/span> <\/p>\n