| King James Bible | New International 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 my third visit 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 already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent: On my return I will not spare those who sinned earlier or any of the others, |
| 3Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. | 3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is 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 to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him in our dealing with 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? | 5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? |
| 6But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. | 6And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed 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. | 7Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong--not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may 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 whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. |
| 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 write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing 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 and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in 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. |
| 13All the saints salute you. | 13All God's people here send their greetings. |
| 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 Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. |
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