2 Corinthians, 13

1. This will be the third time I have confronted you. Whatever the misdemeanour, the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain a charge.

1. This is the third time I am coming to you. Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

2. I gave you notice once, and now, though I am not with you, I give notice again, just as when I was with you for a second time, to those who sinned before, and to all others; and it is to this effect, that when I do come next time, I shall have no mercy.

2. I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them --

3. Since you are asking for a proof that it is Christ who speaks in me; he is not weak with you but his power is at work among you;

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

4. for, though it was out of weakness that he was crucified, he is alive now with the power of God. We, too, are weak in him, but with regard to you we shall live with him by the power of God.

4. For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we are weak in him, but in dealing with you we shall live with him by the power of God.

5. Put yourselves to the test to make sure you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Do you not recognise yourselves as people in whom Jesus Christ is present? - unless, that is, you fail the test.

5. Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you? -- unless indeed you fail to meet the test!

6. But we, as I hope you will come to recognise, do not fail the test.

6. I hope you will find out that we have not failed.

7. It is our prayer to God that you may do nothing wrong -- not so that we have the credit of passing a test, but because you will be doing what is right, even if we do not pass the test.

7. But we pray God that you may not do wrong -- not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.

8. We have no power to resist the truth; only to further the truth;

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

9. and we are delighted to be weak if only you are strong. What we ask in our prayers is that you should be made perfect.

9. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. What we pray for is your improvement.

10. That is why I am writing this while still far away, so that when I am with you I shall not have to be harsh, with the authority that the Lord has given me, an authority that is for building up and not for breaking down.

10. I write this while I am away from you, in order that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

11. To end then, brothers, we wish you joy; try to grow perfect; encourage one another; have a common mind and live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

11. Finally, brethren, farewell. Mend your ways, heed my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

12. Greet one another with the holy kiss. All God's holy people send you their greetings.

12. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

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

13. All the saints greet you.

14.

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