14 (A)Do not be [a]mismatched with (B)unbelievers; for what do righteousness and lawlessness (C)share together, or what does light have in common with darkness? 15 Or what (D)harmony does Christ have with [b]Belial, or [c]what does a (E)believer share with an (F)unbeliever? 16 Or (G)what agreement does [d]the temple of God have with idols? For we are [e](H)the temple of (I)the living God; just as God said,

(J)I will (K)dwell among them and (L)walk among them;
And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
17 (M)Therefore, (N)come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord.
And do not touch what is unclean;
And I will welcome you.
18 (O)And I will be a father to you,
And you shall be (P)sons and daughters to Me,”
Says the Lord Almighty.

Paul Reveals His Heart

Therefore, having these promises, (Q)beloved, (R)let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Lit unevenly yoked
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Gr Beliar; a name of the devil and the antichrist
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Lit what part has a believer with an unbeliever
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or a temple
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Or a temple

Relating with Unbelievers

14 Stop becoming[a] unevenly yoked with unbelievers. What partnership can righteousness have with lawlessness? What fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony exists between the Messiah[b] and Beliar,[c] or what do a believer and an unbeliever have in common? 16 What agreement can a temple of God make with idols? For we[d] are the temple of the living God, just as God said:

“I will live and walk among them.
    I will be their God,
        and they will be my people.”[e]

17 Therefore,

“Get away from them
    and separate yourselves from them,”
        declares the Lord,[f]
“and don’t touch anything unclean.
    Then I will welcome you.
18 I will be your Father,
    and you will be my sons and daughters,”
        declares the Lord[g] Almighty.[h]

Cleanse Yourselves in Holiness

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let’s cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit by becoming mature in our holy fear of God.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:14 Or Don’t become
  2. 2 Corinthians 6:15 Or Christ
  3. 2 Corinthians 6:15 I.e. the devil
  4. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Other mss. read you (pl.)
  5. 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev 26:12; Ezek 37:27
  6. 2 Corinthians 6:17 MT source citation reads Lord
  7. 2 Corinthians 6:18 MT source citation reads Lord
  8. 2 Corinthians 6:18 Isa 52:11; Ezek 20:34, 41; 2 Sam 7:8, 14