3 We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry.
4 In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.
5 We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.
6 We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.
7 We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.
8 We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors.
9 We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed.
10 Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.
11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you.
12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us.
13 I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!
GOOD NEWS TRANSLATION
3 We do not want anyone to find fault with our work, so we try not to put obstacles in anyone's way.4 Instead, in everything we do we show that we are God's servants by patiently enduring troubles, hardships, and difficulties.
5 We have been beaten, jailed, and mobbed; we have been overworked and have gone without sleep or food.
6 By our purity, knowledge, patience, and kindness we have shown ourselves to be God's servants—by the Holy Spirit, by our true love,
7 by our message of truth, and by the power of God. We have righteousness as our weapon, both to attack and to defend ourselves.
8 We are honored and disgraced; we are insulted and praised. We are treated as liars, yet we speak the truth;
9 as unknown, yet we are known by all; as though we were dead, but, as you see, we live on. Although punished, we are not killed;
10 although saddened, we are always glad; we seem poor, but we make many people rich; we seem to have nothing, yet we really possess everything.
11 Dear friends in Corinth! We have spoken frankly to you; we have opened our hearts wide.
12 It is not we who have closed our hearts to you; it is you who have closed your hearts to us.
13 I speak now as though you were my children: show us the same feelings that we have for you. Open your hearts wide!
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