2 Corinthians 13

1 For the third time I am coming to see you. By the word of two or three witnesses each statement will be established.

This third time, am I coming unto you: —at the mouth of two witnesses, or three, shall every matter be established.

2 I have said it, and I say it again before I come, just as if I were with you on my second visit, though for the moment absent, I say to those who have been long sinning, as well as to all others – that if I come again, I will spare no one.

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.

3 And that will be the proof, which you are looking for, that the Christ speaks through me. There is no weakness in his dealings with you. No, he shows his power among you.

Since, a test, ye are seeking, of the speaking in me of Christ; —who, unto you, is not weak, but is powerful in you, —

4 For though his crucifixion was due to weakness, his life is due to the power of God. And we, also, are weak in his weakness, but with him we will live for you through the power of God.

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]—

5 Put yourselves to the test, to see whether you are holding to the faith. Examine yourselves. Surely you recognize this fact about yourselves – that Jesus Christ is in you! Unless indeed you cannot stand the test!

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.

6 But I hope that you will recognize that we can stand the test.

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

7 We pray to God that you may do nothing wrong, not that we may be seen to stand the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may seem not to stand the test.

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;

8 We have no power at all against the truth, but we have power in the service of the truth.

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

9 We are glad when we are weak, if you are strong. And what we pray for is that you may become perfect.

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

10 This is my reason for writing as I am now doing, while I am away from you, so that, when I am with you, I may not act harshly in the exercise of the authority which the Lord gave me – and gave me for building up and not for pulling down.

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.

11 And now, friends, goodbye. Aim at perfection; take courage; agree together; live in peace. And then God, the source of all love and peace, will be with you.

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.

12 Greet one another with a sacred kiss.

Salute ye one another with a holy kiss.

13 All Christ’s people here send you their greetings.

All the saints, salute you.

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

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