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 my third visit to you. “Any charge must be verified by two or three witnesses.”

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;

I already warned those of you who were sinning when I visited the second time. Even though I'm not there, I'm warning them again—and all the rest of you—that when I visit I won't hesitate to act against them,

3 since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who towards you is not weak, but is mighty among you.

since you're demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in the way he relates to you; rather he works powerfully 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.

Even though he was crucified in weakness, now he lives through the power of God. We too are weak in him, but you will see that we live with him through the power of God.

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 to see if you are trusting God. Put yourselves to the test. Don't you yourselves realize that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless you have failed the test…

6 But I trust that ye shall know, that we are not unapproved.

However, I hope that you realize that we have not failed the test.

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.

We pray to God that you won't do anything bad—not so we can show we passed the test, but so you can do what is good, even if we appear to be failures.

8 For we have no power against the truth, but for the truth.

We can't do anything against the truth, 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.

We're happy when we are weak, and you are strong—we pray that you may continue to improve.

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.

That is why I write about this while I'm not with you, so that when I am with you I won't have to treat you harshly by imposing my authority. The Lord gave me authority for building up, 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 and sisters, I say goodbye. Continue to improve spiritually. Encourage one another. Be in agreement. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

12 Salute one another with a holy kiss.

Greet each other with Christian affection.

13 All the saints salute you.

All the believers here send their greetings.

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

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