| New King James Version | NET 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 visit you. By the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter will be established. |
| 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 said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone, |
| 3since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you. | 3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is 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 indeed he was crucified by reason of weakness, but he lives because of God's power. For we also are weak in him, but we will live together with him, because of God's power toward you. |
| 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. | 5Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you--unless, indeed, you fail the test! |
| 6But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. | 6And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed 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. | 7Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right even if we may appear to have failed the test. |
| 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. | 8For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the sake of 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. | 9For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified. |
| 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. | 10Because of this I am writing these things while absent, so that when I arrive I may not have to deal harshly with you by using my authority--the Lord gave it to me for building up, 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, set things right, be encouraged, agree with one another, live in 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 greet you. |
| 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[[EMPTY]] |
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