| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1This is the third time I am coming to you. Every fact must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. | 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 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 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 proof of Christ speaking in me. He is not weak toward you, but powerful among you. | 3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak toward you but is powerful 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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! |
| 6And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test. | 6And I hope that you will realize that we have not failed the 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. | 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 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 sake of the truth. |
| 9In fact, we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature. | 9For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified. |
| 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. | 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, 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 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. All the saints greet you. | 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. All 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 all of you. | 13The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. |
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