2 Corinthians 13

1 Behold, this is the third time that I am coming to you. By the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall stand.

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 preached when present, and I will preach now while absent, to those who sinned before, and to all the others, because, when I arrive again, I will not be lenient with you.

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,

3 Do you seek evidence that it is Christ who speaks in me, who is not weak with you, but is powerful with you?

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

4 For although he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. And yes, we are weak in him. But we shall live with him by the power of God among you.

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.

5 Test yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not know whether Christ Jesus is in you? But perhaps you are reprobates.

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.

6 But I hope you know that we ourselves are not reprobates.

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

7 Now we pray to God that you shall do nothing evil, not so that we may seem to be approved, but so that you may do what is good, even if we seem like reprobates.

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.

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

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

9 For we rejoice that we are weak, while you are strong. This is also what we pray for: your perfection.

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

10 Therefore, I write these things while absent, so that, when present, I may not have to act more harshly, according to the authority which the Lord has given to me, for edification and not for destruction.

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.

11 As to the rest, brothers, rejoice, be perfect, be encouraged, have the same mind, have peace. And so the God of peace and love will be with you.

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.

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 our Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

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