King James Version KJV
English Standard Version ESV
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
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This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
2 I 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:
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I warned those who sinned before and all the others, and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come again I will not spare them--
3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.
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since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
4 For 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.
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For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.
5 Examine 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?
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Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?--unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
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I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.
7 Now 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.
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But we pray to God that you may not do wrong--not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
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For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
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For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.
10 Therefore 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.
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For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
11 Finally, 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.
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Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another,agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
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Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13 All the saints salute you.
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All the saints greet you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
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The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.