2 Corinthians 6

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 As his fel ow-workers, we urge you not to let your acceptance of his grace come to nothing.	1 Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2 As he said, 'At the time of my favour I have answered you; on the day of salvation I have helped you';wel , now is the real time of favour, now the day of salvation is here.	2 For he says: "In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 We avoid putting obstacles in anyone's way, so that no blame may attach to our work of service;	3 We cause no one to stumble in anything, in order that no fault may be found with our ministry;
4 but in everything we prove ourselves authentic servants of God; by resolute perseverance in times ofhardships, difficulties and distress;	4 on the contrary, in everything we commend ourselves as ministers of God, through much endurance, in afflictions, hardships, constraints,
5 when we are flogged or sent to prison or mobbed; labouring, sleepless, starving;	5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, vigils, fasts;
6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness; in the Holy Spirit, in a love free of affectation;	6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, in a holy spirit, in unfeigned love,
7 in the word of truth and in the power of God; by using the weapons of uprightness for attack and fordefence:	7 in truthful speech, in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness at the right and at the left;
8 in times of honour or disgrace, blame or praise; taken for impostors and yet we are genuine;	8 through glory and dishonor, insult and praise. We are treated as deceivers and yet are truthful;
9 unknown and yet we are acknowledged; dying, and yet here we are, alive; scourged but not executed;	9 as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as chastised and yet not put to death;
10 in pain yet always ful of joy; poor and yet making many people rich; having nothing, and yet owningeverything.	10 as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things.
11 People of Corinth, we have spoken frankly and opened our heart to you.	11 We have spoken frankly to you, Corinthians; our heart is open wide.
12 Any distress you feel is not on our side; the distress is in your own selves.	12 You are not constrained by us; you are constrained by your own affections.
13 In fair exchange -- I speak as though to children of mine -- you must open your hearts too.	13 As recompense in kind (I speak as to my children), be open yourselves.
14 Do not harness yourselves in an uneven team with unbelievers; how can uprightness and law-breaking be partners, or what can light and darkness have in common?	14 Do not be yoked with those who are different, with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?
15 How can Christ come to an agreement with Beliar and what sharing can there be between a believerand an unbeliever?	15 What accord has Christ with Beliar? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
16 The temple of God cannot compromise with false gods, and that is what we are -- the temple of theliving God. We have God's word for it: I shall fix my home among them and live among them; I will be their Godand they wil be my people.	16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said: "I will live with them and move among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people.
17 Get away from them, purify yourselves, says the Lord. Do not touch anything unclean, and then I shallwelcome you.	17 Therefore, come forth from them and be separate," says the Lord, "and touch nothing unclean; then I will receive you
18 I shal be father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the almighty Lord.	18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty."