2 Corinthians 13 - Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Final Warnings and Greetings

13 This will be my third time to visit you. And remember, “For every complaint there must be two or three people to say that they know it is true.”[a] 2 When I was with you the second time, I gave a warning to those who had sinned. I am not there now, but I am giving another warning to them and to anyone else who has sinned: When I come to you again, I will punish you. 3 You want proof that Christ is speaking through me. My proof is that he is not weak in dealing with you but is showing his power among you. 4 It is true that Christ was weak when he was killed on the cross, but he lives now by God’s power. It is also true that we share his weakness, but in dealing with you, we will be alive in him by God’s power.

5 Look closely at yourselves. Test yourselves to see if you are living in the faith. Don’t you realize that Christ Jesus is in you? Of course, if you fail the test, he is not in you. 6 But I hope you will see that we have not failed the test. 7 We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Our concern here is not for people to see that we have passed the test in our work with you. Our main concern is that you do what is right, even if it looks as if we have failed the test. 8 We cannot do anything that is against the truth but only what promotes the truth. 9 We are happy to be weak if you are strong. And this is what we pray—that your lives will be made completely right again. 10 I’m writing this before I come so that when I am there I will not have to use my authority to punish you. The Lord gave me that authority to make you stronger, not to destroy you.

11 Now, brothers and sisters, be filled with joy. Try to make everything right, and do what I have asked you to do. Agree with each other, and live in peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

12 Give each other the special greeting of God’s people.[b] All of God’s holy people here send you their greetings.

13 I pray that you will enjoy the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship[c] of the Holy Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 13:1 Quote from Deut. 19:15.
  2. 2 Corinthians 13:12 the special greeting of God’s people Literally, “a holy kiss.”
  3. 2 Corinthians 13:13 fellowship This can mean a sharing or participation in the Holy Spirit or the loving association and unity among believers that is created by the Spirit.

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2 Corinthians 13 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

13 This third time do I come unto you; on the mouth of two witnesses or three shall every saying be established; 2 I have said before, and I say [it] before, as being present, the second time, and being absent, now, do I write to those having sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again,...
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2 Corinthians 13 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

13 Lo! this third time I come to you, and in the mouth of two or of three witnesses [and in the mouth of two or three witnesses] every word shall stand. 2 I said before, and [I] say before, as present twice, and now absent, to them that before have sinned, and to all others; for if I come again, I ...
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2 Corinthians 13 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

13 This is the third time I am coming to you. The holy writings say `Any complaint must be proved by the words of two or three people.' 2 I have told you before, when I visited you the second time. And I tell you again now, while I am not there. When I come again, I will punish those who did wrong b...
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2 Corinthians 13 - World English Bible (WEB)

13 This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”Deuteronomy 19:15 2 I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and t...
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2 Corinthians 13 - The Voice (VOICE)

13 This is my third trip to your city and community. As the Scripture says, “Every charge must be confirmed by two or three witnesses.”[a] 2 As I said before on my second visit, I say now again while absent. Consider this an advance warning, if you wish, to those of you still caught up in your old ...
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2 Corinthians 13 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Final Warnings13 This is the third time I am coming to you. “By the testimony[a] of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” [b] 2 I spoke a warning, when I was with you the second time. Though now I am away, I am again speaking a warning to those who have sinned before, as well as t...
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2 Corinthians 13 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Further Warning13 This is the third time I am coming to you. Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 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 spa...
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2 Corinthians 13 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

13 This is the third time that I come to you. In the mouths of two or three witnesses shall every word stand. 2 I told you before, and tell you now beforehand, as though I had been present a second time. So I write now - being absent from those who until now have sinned, and to all others - that if ...
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2 Corinthians 13 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

13 This is the third time I’m coming to you. ‘Every charge must be substantiated at the mouth of two or three witnesses.’ 2 I said it before when I was with you the second time, and I say it now in advance while I’m away from you, to all those who had sinned previously, and all the others, that whe...
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2 Corinthians 13 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Further Warning13 This is the third time I am coming to you. “Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses.”(A)2 I warned those who sinned previously 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 ...
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2 Corinthians 13 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

He promises to come to them, and he exhorts them to get themselves in order so that he may find them perfect and in harmony. 13 Now I am coming the third time to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall everything be established. 2 I told you before, and I am warning you now, and as I said...
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2 Corinthians 13 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Paul’s Final Advice13 This is the third time I am coming to visit you (and as the Scriptures say, “The facts of every case must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”[a]). 2 I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn the...
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2 Corinthians 13 - New Life Version (NLV)

13 This is my third visit to you. The Holy Writings tell us that when people think someone has done wrong, it must be proven by two or three people who saw the wrong being done. 2 During my second visit I talked to you who have been sinning and to all the others. While I am away, I tell you this ag...
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