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. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

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 said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;

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;

seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me; who toward you is not weak, but is powerful 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 he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God 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?

Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know as to your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.

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

But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified.

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 I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we are as reprobate.

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 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 are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting.

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 cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to 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, brothers, rejoice. Be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, 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, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.