< 2 Corinthians 13 >

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,
I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
3 since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
Since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
4 For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you.
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?
Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?
6 And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.
But I trust that you shall know that we are not reprobates.
7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.
Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that you should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
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 In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
10 This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord has given me to edification, and not to destruction.
11 Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Finally, brothers, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Greet one another with an holy kiss.
13 All the saints send you greetings.
All the saints salute you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

< 2 Corinthians 13 >