| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1This will be the third time I am coming to you. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” | 1This is the third time I am coming to you. Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. |
| 2I have told you before, and foretell as if I were present the second time, and now being absent I write to those who have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare— | 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, |
| 3since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. | 3since you seek proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but powerful among you. |
| 4For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives 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. | 4For he was crucified in weakness, but he lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by God's power. |
| 5Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. | 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. |
| 6But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. | 6And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test. |
| 7Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified. | 7But 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. |
| 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. | 8For we can't do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. |
| 9For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. | 9We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature. |
| 10Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction. | 10This is why I am writing these things while absent, so that when I am there I may not have to deal harshly with you, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down. |
| 11Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. | 11Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, 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. | 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send you greetings. |
| 13All the saints greet you. | 13The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. |
| 14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. | 14 |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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