1As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2For he says,
“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”6:2 Isaiah 49:8
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s Hardships
3We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 12We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.
Warning Against Idolatry
14Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between Christ and Belial6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
17Therefore,
“Come out from them
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
18And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8
16:1 1Ko 3:9; 2Ko 5:20Ffe ng’abakolera awamu ne Katonda, tubeegayirira, ekisa kya Katonda kye mufunye, kireme kufa bwereere. 26:2 Is 49:8Kubanga agamba nti,
“Nakuwulira mu biro ebituufu,
era ne nkuyamba ku lunaku olw’obulokozi.”
Laba kaakano kye kiseera ekituufu, era laba kaakano lwe lunaku olw’obulokozi.
Ebizibu bya Pawulo
36:3 Bar 14:13, 20Tetuleeta kintu kyonna kyesittaza, obuweereza bwaffe buleme okunenyezebwa, 4naye mu buli kintu tweyoleka nga tuli baweereza ba Katonda, mu kugumiikiriza okungi okw’okubonaabona, mu bizibu byonna ebya buli ngeri, ne mu kunyolwa, 56:5 a 2Ko 11:23-25 b 1Ko 4:11ne mu kukubibwa ne mu kusibibwa mu kkomera, ne mu busasamalo, ne mu kutakabana, ne mu kutunula, ne mu kusiiba, 66:6 1Bs 1:5ne mu bulongoofu, ne mu kumanya, ne mu bugumiikiriza, ne mu kisa, mu Mwoyo Omutukuvu, ne mu kwagala okutaliimu bukuusa, 76:7 a 2Ko 4:2 b 2Ko 10:4ne mu kigambo eky’amazima, ne mu maanyi ga Katonda olw’ebyokulwanyisa eby’obutuukirivu ebiri mu mukono ogwa ddyo n’ogwa kkono, 86:8 a 1Ko 4:10 b Mat 27:63wakati mu kitiibwa n’okunyoomebwa, wakati mu kutufeebya, ne wakati mu kututenda, nga tuyitibwa abalimba ate nga tuli ba mazima. 96:9 a Bar 8:36 b 2Ko 1:8-10; 4:10, 11Ensi etusussa amaaso nga b’etemanyi, naye ate nga tumanyiddwa ng’abaafa, naye laba nga tuli balamu, nga tubonerezebwa naye ate nga tetuttibwa, 106:10 a 2Ko 7:4 b 2Ko 8:9 c Bar 8:32; 1Ko 3:21nga tunakuwala naye ate nga tusanyuka bulijjo, nga tuli ng’abaavu naye nga tugaggawaza bangi, nga tuli ng’abatalina kintu naye ate nga tulina byonna.
116:11 2Ko 7:3Twogedde lwatu gye muli Abakkolinso, n’omutima gwaffe gugaziye. 12Musiriikiridde bingi naye ffe tubategeezezza byonna. 136:13 1Ko 4:14Kaakano njogera nammwe nga bwe nandyogedde n’abaana, temutwekwekerera.
146:14 a 1Ko 5:9, 10 b Bef 5:7, 11; 1Yk 1:6Temwegattanga wamu n’abatali bakkiriza, kubanga nkolagana ki eriwo wakati w’obutuukirivu n’obujeemu, oba kutabagana ki okuliwo wakati w’ekitangaala n’ekizikiza? 156:15 Bik 5:14Kristo atabagana atya ne Beriyali? Oba mugabo ki omukkiriza gw’alina n’atali mukkiriza? 166:16 a 1Ko 3:16 b Lv 26:12; Yer 32:38; Ez 37:27Yeekaalu ya Katonda ne bakatonda abalala bibeera bitya obumu? Kubanga ffenna tuli Yeekaalu ya Katonda omulamu. Nga Katonda bwe yagamba nti,
“Nnaabeeranga mu bo
era natambuliranga mu bo,
nnaabeeranga Katonda waabwe,
nabo banaabeeranga bantu bange.”
176:17 a Kub 18:4 b Is 52:11Noolwekyo “muve wakati mu bo,
mubeeyawuleko,
bw’ayogera Mukama.
Temukwata ku bitali birongoofu,
nange nnaabaaniriza.”
186:18 Is 43:6Era “nnaabeeranga Kitammwe,
nammwe ne mubeeranga batabani bange ne bawala bange,”
bw’ayogera Mukama Ayinzabyonna.
