2 Corinthians 13

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. By the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

This is the third time I am coming to you. Every matter must be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses.

2 I told you before, and foretell, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them who have sinned before, and to all others, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I am giving this written warning while absent: If I come again I will not spare those who sinned previously or any of the others,

3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who toward you is not weak, but is mighty in you.

since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.

4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth 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.

For though he was crucified in weakness, he lives by the power of God. Now we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.

5 Examine yourselves, whether ye are in the faith; test your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye are disqualified?

Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith; test yourselves. Or do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless, of course, you fail to meet the test.

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

But I hope you will recognize that we have not failed the test.

7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we may seem disqualified.

I pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that we may appear to have met the test, but so that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to have failed.

8 For we can do nothing 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: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong, and we pray for your restoration.

10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

The reason I am writing these things to you while I am absent is so that, when I am present, I will not need to be harsh in my use of authority, which the Lord has given 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. Be restored, be comforted, be of the same mind, and live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

13 All the saints greet you.

All the saints greet you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, ''a city'' of Macedonia, by Titus and Luke.

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