2 Corinthians 13

1 The third time am I coming to you. By the mouth of two or three witnesses, every matter shall be established.

Behold, this is the third time that I am coming to you. By the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word shall stand.

2 I have foretold, and now the second time, as if I was present, though being absent, I foretell to those who have sinned, and to all others, that, if I come again, I will not spare;

I have preached when present, and I will preach now while absent, to those who sinned before, and to all the others, because, when I arrive again, I will not be lenient with you.

3 since you seek a proof of Christ’s speaking in me, who toward you is not weak, but who is mighty in you:

Do you seek evidence that it is Christ who speaks in me, who is not weak with you, but is powerful with you?

4 for though he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives 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 although he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by the power of God. And yes, we are weak in him. But we shall live with him by the power of God among you.

5 Make trial of yourselves, whether you are in the faith; put yourselves to the proof. Do you not know your own selves, that Christ Jesus is in you? unless you be without proof.

Test yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not know whether Christ Jesus is in you? But perhaps you are reprobates.

6 But I hope that you will know that we are not without proof.

But I hope you know that we ourselves are not reprobates.

7 Yet I pray to God that you may do no evil; not that we may appear as having proof, but that you may do what is good, though we be as without proof.

Now we pray to God that you shall do nothing evil, not so that we may seem to be approved, but so that you may do what is good, even if we seem like reprobates.

8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but we can do something for the truth.

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

9 For we rejoice when we are weak, and you are strong. And we pray also for this―your perfection.

For we rejoice that we are weak, while you are strong. This is also what we pray for: your perfection.

10 For this reason, I write these things, while absent, that I may not, when present, use severity, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification, and not for destruction.

Therefore, I write these things while absent, so that, when present, I may not have to act more harshly, according to the authority which the Lord has given to me, for edification and not for destruction.

11 Finally, brethren, farewell; be perfect, be comforted, be of the same mind, be at peace; and the God of love and of peace will be with you.

As to the rest, brothers, rejoice, be perfect, be encouraged, have the same mind, have peace. And so the God of peace and love 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 communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

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