| King James Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. | 1This will be the third time I am coming to you. "Every accusation must be verified by 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 have already warned those who sinned previously and all the rest. Although I am absent now, I am warning them as I did on my second visit: If I come back, I will not spare you, |
| 3Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. | 3since you want proof that the Messiah is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is making his power felt 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. | 4Though he was crucified in weakness, he lives by God's power. We are weak with him, but by God's power we will live for you. |
| 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? | 5Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, don't you, that Jesus the Messiah lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test? |
| 6But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. | 6I hope you will realize that we haven't failed our 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. | 7We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not to show that we have not failed the test, but so that you may do what is right, even if we seem to have failed. |
| 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. | 8For we cannot 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 are glad when we are weak and you are strong. That is what we are praying for—your maturity. |
| 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. | 10For this reason I am writing this while I am away from you: When I come I do not want to be severe in using the authority the Lord gave me to build you up and not to tear you 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, goodbye. Keep on growing to maturity. Keep listening to my appeals. Continue agreeing with each other and living in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you. |
| 12Greet one another with an holy kiss. | 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. |
| 13All the saints salute you. | 13All the saints greet you. |
| 14The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. | 14May the grace of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you! |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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