2 Corinthians 13

¹ This wil be the third time I have confronted you. Whatever the misdemeanour, the evidence of two orthree witnesses is required to sustain a charge.

² I gave you notice once, and now, though I am not with you, I give notice again, just as when I was withyou for a second time, to those who sinned before, and to all others; and it is to this effect, that when I do comenext time, I shal have no mercy.

³ Since you are asking for a proof that it is Christ who speaks in me; he is not weak with you but hispower is at work among you;

⁴ for, though it was out of weakness that he was crucified, he is alive now with the power of God. We,too, are weak in him, but with regard to you we shal live with him by the power of God.

⁵ Put yourselves to the test to make sure you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Do you notrecognise yourselves as people in whom Jesus Christ is present? - unless, that is, you fail the test.

⁶ But we, as I hope you wil come to recognise, do not fail the test.

⁷ It is our prayer to God that you may do nothing wrong -- not so that we have the credit of passing atest, but because you wil be doing what is right, even if we do not pass the test.

⁸ We have no power to resist the truth; only to further the truth;

⁹ and we are delighted to be weak if only you are strong. What we ask in our prayers is that you shouldbe made perfect.

¹⁰ That is why I am writing this while still far away, so that when I am with you I shal not have to beharsh, with the authority that the Lord has given me, an authority that is for building up and not for breakingdown.

¹¹ To end then, brothers, we wish you joy; try to grow perfect; encourage one another; have a commonmind and live in peace, and the God of love and peace wil be with you.

¹² Greet one another with the holy kiss. Al God's holy people send you their greetings.

¹³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fel owship of the Holy Spirit be with youal .