2 Corinthians 13

Modern

Literal

Examine Yourselves

¹This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”^a

¹This third time I am coming to you. “On the mouth of two or three witnesses every word will be established.”

²I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,

²I have said before, and I say it before as being present the second time and being absent now, to those having sinned before and to all the rest, that if I come to the same again, I will not spare anyone,

³since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you.

³since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you but is powerful among you.

⁴For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. For we are also weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him concerning you.

⁴For also He was crucified out of weakness, yet He lives out of God's power. For we also are weak in Him, but we will live with Him out of God’s power toward you.

⁵Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you fail the test?

⁵Test yourselves, whether you are in the faith; examine yourselves. Or do you not recognize yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you are unapproved.

⁶And I hope you will realize that we have not failed the test.

⁶And I trust that you will learn that we are not unapproved.

⁷Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what is right, even if we appear to have failed.

⁷Now we pray to God for you to do nothing wrong, not that we might appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we might appear as unapproved.

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

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

⁹In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.

⁹For we rejoice when we may be weak but you may be powerful. This also we pray for: your perfection.

¹⁰This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.

¹⁰Because of this, I write these things being absent, so that being present I should not treat you severely according to the authority that the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

Benediction and Farewell

¹¹Finally, brothers, rejoice! Aim for perfect harmony, encourage one another,^a be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

¹¹Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected, be exhorted, be of the same mind, be at peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

¹²Greet one another with a holy kiss.

¹³All the saints send you greetings.

¹³All the saints greet you.

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

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