2 Corinthians 13

1 This third time, am I coming unto you: —at the mouth of two witnesses, or three, shall every matter 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 said beforehand, and do say beforehand, —as present the second time, although now absent, unto them who before sinned, and unto 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 Since, a test, ye are seeking, of the speaking in me of Christ; —who, unto you, 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, although he was crucified through weakness, yet is he living through God’s power, —for, although, we, are weak in him, yet shall we live with him, through God’s power [unto us]—

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 Be trying, yourselves, whether ye are in the faith, be putting, yourselves, to the test! Or do ye not recognise yourselves, seeing that, Jesus Christ, is in you, —unless perhaps ye fail in the testing.

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 I hope, however, that ye shall come to know, that, we, fail not in the testing!

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

7 But we pray unto God, that ye may do nothing base, —not that, we, may appear, accepted, but that, ye, the honourable thing, may be doing, even though, we, should be, as it were, rejected;

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—whensoever, we, are weak, and, ye, are, strong. This, also we pray for—your restoration: —

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, these things, while absent, am I writing, that I may not, when present, deal sharply—according to the authority which, the Lord, hath given me, for building up and not for pulling 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, brethren, farewell! Be getting restored, be taking encouragement, be of one 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 Salute ye one another with a holy kiss.

Salute one another with a holy kiss.

13 All the saints, salute you.

All God's people here send greetings to you.

14 The favour of our Lord Jesus [Christ], and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

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