| King James Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word 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 told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, 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 ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is 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 through weakness, yet he liveth 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, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? | 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 ye shall know that we are not reprobates. | 6And I hope you will recognize that we ourselves do not fail the test. |
| 7Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. | 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 ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. | 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 power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to 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. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall 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 an holy kiss. | 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints send you greetings. |
| 13All the saints salute 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 Ghost, be with you all. Amen. | 14 |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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