2 Corinthians 13
Paul warns that on his third visit he will not spare those who continue in sin, and urges the Corinthians to examine themselves to see whether they are in the faith. He closes with a prayer for their perfection and the benediction: "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all."
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. | This will be the third time I am coming to You. "In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established." |
| 2 | I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare: | I have already warned You, and as if present the second time I now warn You while still absent — those who have sinned before, and all the rest — that if I come again, I will not spare. |
| 3 | Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. | You are demanding a proof that Christ is speaking in me — He who is not weak toward you, but mighty in 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, yet He lives by the power of God. We also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward You. |
| 5 | Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? | Examine yourselves, whether You be in the faith; test Your own selves. Do You not know Your own selves — that Jesus Christ is in You, unless You be reprobates? |
| 6 | But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. | But I trust that You shall know that we are not reprobates. |
| 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 be as reprobates. | Now I pray to God that You do no evil — not that we should appear approved, but that You should do what is honest, even though we should seem as reprobates. |
| 8 | For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. | For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. |
| 9 | For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. | For we are glad when we are weak and You are strong. And this also we pray for: Your perfecting. |
| 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. | Therefore I write these things while absent, so that when present I may not have to be severe, according to the 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, 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. |
| 12 | Greet one another with an 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 Ghost, be with you all. Amen. | The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with You all. Amen. |