Afflictions of God’s Servants

6 Now because we[fn] are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For he says,

• “At the acceptable time I heard you,
• and in the day of salvation I helped you.”[fn]

Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation! 3 We are giving no one an occasion for taking offense in anything, in order that our ministry will not have fault found with it, 4 but commending ourselves as servants of God in every way, in much endurance, in afflictions, in distresses, in difficulties, 5 in beatings, in prisons, in disturbances, in troubles, in sleepless nights, in going hungry, 6 in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in love without hypocrisy, 7 in the word of truth, in the power of God, with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and left hand, 8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and good repute, regarded as deceivers and yet truthful, 9 as unknown and yet known completely, as dying, and behold, we go on living, as disciplined, and yet not put to death, 10 as grieving, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and possessing everything.

11 ⌊We have spoken freely and openly⌋[fn] to you, Corinthians; our heart is open wide. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your affections. 13 Now the same way in exchange (I am speaking as to children), you open wide your hearts also.