2 Corinthians 13

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

2 I have warned previously, and I warn again, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now and to all the rest that if I come again, I will not spare,

As I already said while with you the second time, I now repeat in writing while absent, to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again I will not spare,

3 seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me who is not weak, but is powerful in you.

since you want proof that Christ is speaking through me—He who is not weak toward you but powerful among you

4 For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.

(although He was crucified in weakness, He lives by the power of God). Now we also are weak in Him, but we will live with Him by the power of God toward you.

5 Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know about your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you yourselves really not know that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

6 But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified.

Well I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we may seem to have failed.

Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do what is right (even though we may appear to have failed).

8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

For we cannot do anything against the Truth, but only for the Truth.

9 For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray for this: your becoming perfect.

Now we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And we also pray for this, your perfecting.

10 For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

This is why I write these things while absent, so that when present I may not have to deal harshly, according to the authority that the Lord gave me, for building up and not for tearing down.

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Finally, brothers, rejoice; restore each other; encourage one another; be of one mind; live in peace; and the God of the love and the peace will be with you.

12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

13 All the saints greet you.

All the saints greet you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.