¹Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain,

¹Zvino zvatinobatawo pamwe, tinokumbira zvikuruwo kuti musagamuchira nyasha dzaMwari pasina.

²for he says, “At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you.” Isaiah 49:8 Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation.

²Nekuti unoti: Nenguva yakafanira ndakakunzwa, uye nepazuva reruponeso ndakakubatsira; tarirai, zvino nguva yakafanira; tarirai ikozvino zuva rekuponeswa.

³We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed,

³Hatigumbusi nechinhu, kuti kushumira kurege kumhurwa;

⁴but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

⁴asi pazvose tinozviratidza savashumiri vaMwari, pakutsungirira kukuru, pamanikidzo, pakushaiwa, pakumanikidzwa,

⁵in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;

⁵pakurohwa, pakusungwa, pamabongozozo, pamabasa, pakusavata, pakutsanya,

⁶in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,

⁶pautsvene, paruzivo, pamoyo murefu, paunyoro, paMweya Mutsvene, parudo rusinganyepedzeri;

⁷in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

⁷pashoko rechokwadi, pasimba raMwari, pazvombo zvekururama, kurudyi nekuruboshwe,

⁸by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;

⁸nekukudzwa nekuzvidzwa, neguhu rakaipa neguhu rakanaka; sevanyepedzeri, asi tiri vechokwadi;

⁹as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed;

⁹sevasingazikamwi, asi tichizikamwa zvikuru; sevanofa, asi tarirai, tiri vapenyu; sevanorohwa, asi tisingaurawi;

¹⁰as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

¹⁰sevanoshungurudzwa, asi tichigara tichifara; sevarombo, asi tichifumisa vazhinji; savasine chinhu, asi tine zvose.

¹¹Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged.

¹¹Imwi veKorinde, muromo wedu wakashama kwamuri, moyo wedu wakuriswa.

¹²You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.

¹²Hamumanikidzwi matiri, asi munomanikidzwa mumoyo menyu.

¹³Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide.

¹³Zvino pakutsiva kwakadaro, ndinotaura sekune vana vangu, imwiwo mukuriswe.

¹⁴Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

¹⁴Musasungwa zvisina kufanira pajoko pamwe nevasingatendi; nekuti kururama kungava nekudyidzana kwei nekusarurama? Chiedza chingabatana sei nerima?

¹⁵What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever?

¹⁵Kristu unokunzwana kwei naBeriari? Unotenda ungava nemugove wei neusingatendi?

¹⁶What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27

¹⁶Tembere yaMwari ine chitenderano chei nezvifananidzo? Nekuti imwi muri tembere yaMwari mupenyu, Mwari sezvaakareva achiti: Ndichagara mavari, nekufamba mavari; ndichava Mwari wavo, uye ivo vachava vanhu vangu.

¹⁷Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34,41

¹⁷Naizvozvo budai pakati pavo, muraurwe, ndizvo zvinotaura Ishe, uye musabata chine tsvina; uye ini ndichakugamuchirai,

¹⁸I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8

¹⁸Uye ndichava Baba kwamuri, nemwi muchava vanakomana nevanasikana vangu, ndizvo zvinotaura Ishe Wemasimbaose.