Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Since we work together with him, we are also begging you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
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As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.
2 He says, I listened to you at the right time, and I helped you on the day of salvation. Look, now is the right time! Look, now is the day of salvation!
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For he says, "At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you." See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!
3 We don't give anyone any reason to be offended about anything so that our ministry won't be criticized.
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We are putting no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
4 Instead, we commend ourselves as ministers of God in every way. We did this with our great endurance through problems, disasters, and stressful situations.
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but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,
5 We went through beatings, imprisonments, and riots. We experienced hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger.
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beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
6 We displayed purity, knowledge, patience, and generosity. We served with the Holy Spirit, genuine love,
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by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love,
7 telling the truth, and God's power. We carried the weapons of righteousness in our right hand and our left hand.
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truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;
8 We were treated with honor and dishonor and with verbal abuse and good evaluation. We were seen as both fake and real,
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in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true;
9 as unknown and well known, as dying—and look, we are alive! We were seen as punished but not killed,
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as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed;
10 as going through pain but always happy, as poor but making many rich, and as having nothing but owning everything.
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as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11 Corinthians, we have spoken openly to you, and our hearts are wide open.
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We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you.
12 There are no limits to the affection that we feel for you. You are the ones who placed boundaries on your affection for us.
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There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours.
13 But as a fair trade—I'm talking to you like you are children—open your hearts wide too.
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In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.
14 Don't be tied up as equal partners with people who don't believe. What does righteousness share with that which is outside the Law? What relationship does light have with darkness?
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Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness?
15 What harmony does Christ have with Satan? What does a believer have in common with someone who doesn't believe?
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What agreement does Christ have with Beliar? Or what does a believer share with an unbeliever?
16 What agreement can there be between God's temple and idols? Because we are the temple of the living God. Just as God said, I live with them, and I will move among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
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What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord. Don't touch what is unclean. Then I will welcome you.
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Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you,
18 I will be a father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
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and I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.