King James Version KJV
The Message Bible MSG
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
1
Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us.
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.)
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God reminds us, I heard your call in the nick of time; The day you needed me, I was there to help.
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
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Don't put it off; don't frustrate God's work by showing up late, throwing a question mark over everything we're doing.
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
4
Our work as God's servants gets validated - or not - in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times;
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
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when we're beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
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with pure heart, clear head, steady hand; in gentleness, holiness, and honest love;
7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
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when we're telling the truth, and when God's showing his power; when we're doing our best setting things right;
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
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when we're praised, and when we're blamed; slandered, and honored; true to our word, though distrusted;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
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ignored by the world, but recognized by God; terrifically alive, though rumored to be dead; beaten within an inch of our lives, but refusing to die;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
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immersed in tears, yet always filled with deep joy; living on handouts, yet enriching many; having nothing, having it all.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
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Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
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We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way.
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
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I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively!
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
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Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
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Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands?
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.
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Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way: "I'll live in them, move into them; I'll be their God and they'll 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,
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So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good," says God. "Don't link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself.
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
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I'll be a Father to you; you'll be sons and daughters to me."
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.