2 Corinthians 5:11-7:4

New King James Version

¹¹Knowing, therefore, ^(A)the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

Be Reconciled to God

¹²For ^(B)we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity ^(C)to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. ¹³For ^(D)if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. ¹⁴For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that ^(E)if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵and He died for all, ^(F)that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

¹⁶^(G)Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, ^(H)yet now we know Him thus no longer. ¹⁷Therefore, if anyone ^(I)is in Christ, he is ^(J)a new creation; ^(K)old things have passed away; behold, all things have become ^(L)new. ¹⁸Now all things are of God, ^(M)who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹that is, that ^(N)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not ^[a]imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰Now then, we are ^(O)ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹For ^(P)He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become ^(Q)the righteousness of God in Him.

Marks of the Ministry

6 We then, as ^(R)workers together with Him also ^(S)plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ²For He says:

^(T)“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

³^(U)We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. ⁴But in all things we commend ourselves ^(V)as ministers of God: in much ^[b]patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, ⁵^(W)in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; ⁶by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by ^[c]sincere love, ⁷^(X)by the word of truth, by ^(Y)the power of God, by ^(Z)the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹as unknown, and ^(AA)yet well known; ^(AB)as dying, and behold we live; ^(AC)as chastened, and yet not killed; ¹⁰as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many ^(AD)rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Be Holy

¹¹O Corinthians! ^[d]We have spoken openly to you, ^(AE)our heart is wide open. ¹²You are not restricted by us, but ^(AF)you are restricted by your own affections. ¹³Now in return for the same ^(AG)(I speak as to children), you also be open.

¹⁴^(AH)Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For ^(AI)what ^[e]fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what ^[f]communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ^(AJ)you^[g] are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

^(AK)“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”

¹⁷Therefore

^(AL)“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
¹⁸“I ^(AM)will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My ^(AN)sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”

The Corinthians’ Repentance

7 Therefore,^(AO) having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The Corinthians’ Repentance

²Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, ^(AP)we have cheated no one. ³I do not say this to condemn; for ^(AQ)I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. ⁴^(AR)Great is my boldness of speech toward you, ^(AS)great is my boasting on your behalf. ^(AT)I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 5:19 reckoning
2 Corinthians 6:4 endurance
2 Corinthians 6:6 Lit. unhypocritical
2 Corinthians 6:11 Lit. Our mouth is open
2 Corinthians 6:14 in common
2 Corinthians 6:14 fellowship
2 Corinthians 6:16 NU we

Psalm 72

New King James Version

Glory and Universality of the Messiah’s Reign

A Psalm ^(A)of Solomon.

72 Give the king Your judgments, O God,
And Your righteousness to the king’s Son.
²^(B)He will judge Your people with righteousness,
And Your poor with justice.
³^(C)The mountains will bring peace to the people,
And the little hills, by righteousness.
⁴^(D)He will bring justice to the poor of the people;
He will save the children of the needy,
And will ^[a]break in pieces the oppressor.

⁵^[b]They shall fear You
^(E)As long as the sun and moon endure,
Throughout all generations.
⁶^(F)He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing,
Like showers that water the earth.
⁷In His days the righteous shall flourish,
^(G)And abundance of peace,
Until the moon is no more.

⁸^(H)He shall have dominion also from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.
⁹^(I)Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him,
^(J)And His enemies will lick the dust.
¹⁰^(K)The kings of Tarshish and of the isles
Will bring presents;
The kings of Sheba and Seba
Will offer gifts.
¹¹^(L)Yes, all kings shall fall down before Him;
All nations shall serve Him.

¹²For He ^(M)will deliver the needy when he cries,
The poor also, and him who has no helper.
¹³He will spare the poor and needy,
And will save the souls of the needy.
¹⁴He will redeem their life from oppression and violence;
And ^(N)precious shall be their blood in His sight.

¹⁵And He shall live;
And the gold of ^(O)Sheba will be given to Him;
Prayer also will be made for Him continually,
And daily He shall be praised.

¹⁶There will be an abundance of grain in the earth,
On the top of the mountains;
Its fruit shall wave like Lebanon;
^(P)And those of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.

¹⁷^(Q)His name shall endure forever;
His name shall continue as long as the sun.
And ^(R)men shall be blessed in Him;
^(S)All nations shall call Him blessed.

¹⁸^(T)Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
^(U)Who only does wondrous things!
¹⁹And ^(V)blessed be His glorious name forever!
^(W)And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.