1 T his is the third time that I am coming to you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses must any charge and every accusing statement be sustained and confirmed.

This is the third time I am coming to you. Every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

2 I have already warned those who sinned formerly and all the rest also, and I warn them now again while I am absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come back, I will not spare,

I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,

3 S ince you desire and seek proof of the Christ Who speaks in and through me. is not weak and feeble in dealing with you, but is a mighty power within you;

since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.

4 F or though He was crucified in weakness, yet He goes on living by the power of God. And though we too are weak in Him, yet in dealing with you alive and strong in Him by the power of God.

For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

5 E xamine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves '> not Christ]. Do you not yourselves realize and know that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you are disapproved on trial and rejected?

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?

6 B ut I hope you will recognize and know that we are not disapproved on trial and rejected.

But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.

7 B ut I pray to God that you may do nothing wrong, not in order that we '> our teaching] may appear to be approved, but that you may continue doing right, we may seem to have failed and be unapproved.

Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved.

8 F or we can do nothing against the Truth '> not serve any party or personal interest], but only for the Truth '> which is the Gospel].

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

9 F or we are glad when we are weak ( unapproved) and you are really strong. And this we also pray for: your all-round strengthening and perfecting of soul.

For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete.

10 S o I write these things while I am absent from you, that when I come to you, I may not have to deal sharply in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.

For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.

11 F inally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same mind one with another; live in peace, and the God of love and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.

Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

12 G reet one another with a consecrated kiss.

Greet one another with a holy kiss.

13 A ll the saints (the people of God here) salute you.

All the saints greet you.

14 T he grace (favor and spiritual blessing) of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the presence and fellowship (the communion and sharing together, and participation) in the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen (so be it).

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