6 ¹⁴ DO NOT UNITE yourselves with unbelievers; they are no fit mates for you. What has righteousness to do with wickedness? Can light consort with darkness? 6 ¹⁵ Can Christ agree with Belial, or a believer join hands with an unbeliever? 6 ^{16 [ Lv.26.12, Jr.32.38, Eze.37.27. ]} Can there be a compact between the temple of God and the idols of the heathen? And the temple of the living God is what we are. God's own words are: 'I will live and move about among them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.' 6 ^{17 [ Is.52.11, Eze.20.34. ]} And therefore, 'come away and leave them, separate yourselves, says the Lord; touch nothing unclean. 6 ^{18 [ 2Sm.7.8-14, Is.43.6, Jr.31.9. ]} Then I will accept you, says the Lord, the Ruler of all being; I will be a father is to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters.'

7 ¹ Such are the promises that have been made to us, dear friends. Let us therefore cleanse ourselves from all that can defile flesh or spirit, and in the fear of God complete our consecration.