7. telling the truth, and God’s power. We carried the weapons of righteousness in our right hand and our left hand.
8. We were treated with honor and dishonor and with verbal abuse and good evaluation. We were seen as both fake and real,
9. as unknown and well known, as dying—and look, we are alive! We were seen as punished but not killed,
10. as going through pain but always happy, as poor but making many rich, and as having nothing but owning everything.
11. Corinthians, we have spoken openly to you, and our hearts are wide open.
12. There are no limits to the affection that we feel for you. You are the ones who placed boundaries on your affection for us.
13. But as a fair trade—I’m talking to you like you are children—open your hearts wide too.
14. Don’t be tied up as equal partners with people who don’t believe. What does righteousness share with that which is outside the Law? What relationship does light have with darkness?
15. What harmony does Christ have with Satan? What does a believer have in common with someone who doesn’t believe?
16. What agreement can there be between God’s temple and idols? Because we are the temple of the living God. Just as God said, I live with them, and I will move among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
17. Therefore, come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord. Don’t touch what is unclean. Then I will welcome you.