| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1This is the third time I am coming to you. Every fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. | 1This will be the third time I am coming to you. "Every accusation must be verified by two or three witnesses." |
| 2I gave a warning when I was present the second time, and now I give a warning while I am absent to those who sinned before and to all the rest: If I come again, I will not be lenient, | 2I have already warned those who sinned previously and all the rest. Although I am absent now, I am warning them as I did on my second visit: If I come back, I will not spare you, |
| 3since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak toward you, but powerful among you. | 3since you want proof that the Messiah is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is making his power felt among you. |
| 4In fact, He was crucified in weakness, but He lives by God's power. For we also are weak in Him, yet toward you we will live with Him by God's power. | 4Though he was crucified in weakness, he lives by God's power. We are weak with him, but by God's power we will live for you. |
| 5Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless you fail the test. | 5Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, don't you, that Jesus the Messiah lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test? |
| 6And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test. | 6I hope you will realize that we haven't failed our test. |
| 7Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong--not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to fail. | 7We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not to show that we have not failed the test, but so that you may do what is right, even if we seem to have failed. |
| 8For we are not able to do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. | 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. |
| 9In fact, we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature. | 9We are glad when we are weak and you are strong. That is what we are praying for—your maturity. |
| 10This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down. | 10For this reason I am writing this while I am away from you: When I come I do not want to be severe in using the authority the Lord gave me to build you up and not to tear you down. |
| 11Finally, brothers, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. | 11Finally, brothers, goodbye. Keep on growing to maturity. Keep listening to my appeals. Continue agreeing with each other and living in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. |
| 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. | 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. |
| 13The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. | 13All the saints greet you. |
| 14 | 14May the grace of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you! |
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