6:1 Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ¹  6:2 For he says, “I heard you at the acceptable time, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” ²  Look, now is the acceptable time; look, now is the day of salvation! 6:3 We do not give anyone ³  an occasion for taking an offense in anything, ⁴  so that no fault may be found with our ministry. 6:4 But as God’s servants, ⁵  we have commended ourselves in every way, ⁶  with great endurance, in persecutions, ⁷  in difficulties, in distresses, 6:5 in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, ⁸  in troubles, ⁹  in sleepless nights, in hunger, 6:6 by purity, by knowledge, by patience, by benevolence, by the Holy Spirit, ¹⁰  by genuine ¹¹  love, 6:7 by truthful ¹²  teaching, ¹³  by the power of God, with weapons of righteousness both for the right hand and for the left, ¹⁴  6:8 through glory and dishonor, through slander and praise; regarded as impostors, ¹⁵  and yet true; 6:9 as unknown, and yet well-known; as dying and yet – see! – we continue to live; as those who are scourged ¹⁶  and yet not executed; 6:10 as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

6:11 We have spoken freely to you, ¹⁷  Corinthians; our heart has been opened wide to you. 6:12 Our affection for you is not restricted, ¹⁸  but you are restricted in your affections for us. 6:13 Now as a fair exchange – I speak as to my ¹⁹  children – open wide your hearts to us ²⁰  also.