1. Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
2. For he says, “I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation!
3. We do not give anyone an occasion for taking an offense in anything, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.
4. But as God’s servants, we have commended ourselves in every way, with great endurance, in persecutions, in difficulties, in distresses,
5. in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in hunger,
6. by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, by genuine love,
7. by truthful teaching, by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left,
8. through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, and yet true;
9. as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged and yet not executed;
10. as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you.