2 Corinthians 13

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In 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 said before, and now say beforehand, as when present the second time, so also absent now, to those who have sinned before, and to all the others, 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 since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who towards you is not weak, but is mighty among you.

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

4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth through the power of God; for we also are weak in him, but we shall live together with him by 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 Try yourselves, whether ye are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, that Christ Jesus is in you, unless ye are unapproved?

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 trust that ye shall know, that we are not unapproved.

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

7 Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not in order that we may appear approved, but that ye may do what is good, though we be as unapproved.

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 have no power against the truth, but for the truth.

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

9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong; this also we pray for, even your perfection.

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 when present I may not use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord gave me for edification, and not for destruction.

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, brethren, 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.

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 Salute one another with a holy kiss.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

13 All the saints salute you.

All the saints greet you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the partaking of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

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