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 intended visit of mine is my third visit to you. "On the evidence of two or three witnesses every charge shall be sustained."

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,

Those who cling to their old sins, and indeed all of you, I have forewarned and still forewarn (as I did on my second visit when present, so I do now, though absent) that, when I come again, I shall not spare you;

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 a practical proof of the fact that Christ speaks by my lips--He who is not feeble towards 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.

For though it is true that He was crucified through weakness, yet He now lives through the power of God. We also are weak, sharing His weakness, but with Him we shall be full of life to deal with you through the power of God.

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.

Test yourselves to discover whether you are true believers: put your own selves under examination. Or do you not know that Jesus Christ is within you, unless you are insincere?

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

But I trust that you will recognize that we are not insincere.

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.

And our prayer to God is that you may do nothing wrong; not in order that our sincerity may be demonstrated, but that you may do what is right, even though our sincerity may seem to be doubtful.

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

For we have no power against the truth, but only for the furtherance of the truth;

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

and it is a joy to us when we are powerless, but you are strong. This we also pray for--the perfecting of your characters.

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.

For this reason I write thus while absent, that when present I may not have to act severely in the exercise of the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for pulling 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, brethren, be joyful, secure perfection of character, take courage, be of one mind, live in peace. And then God who gives love and peace will be with you.

12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Salute one another with a holy kiss.

13 All the saints greet you.

All God's people here send greetings to you.

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

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