2 Corinthians 13 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

This will be my third time coming to you. "Every matter must be established by two or three witnesses."

I already warned those who kept failing before, and everyone else too — and even though I'm not there right now, I'm warning you again just like I did on my second visit: when I come back, I will not go easy on anyone.

You keep demanding proof that The One is speaking through me. Well, he isn't weak when he deals with you — he's powerful among you.

Yes, he was executed in weakness, but he lives by the power of God. And we share in that weakness, but by God's power we will be fully alive together with him when we deal with you.

Put yourselves to the test and examine whether you're actually living in the faith. Check yourselves! Don't you realize that Jesus, The One, is in you? — unless, of course, you fail the test.

And I trust you'll discover that we haven't failed the test.

Now we're asking God that you won't do anything wrong — not so that we look like we passed the test, but so that you actually do what's right, even if we end up looking like failures.

Because we can't do anything against the truth — only for it.

We're actually glad when we're weak and you're strong. What we're really asking for is your complete restoration.

That's why I'm writing this while I'm away — so that when I arrive, I won't have to be harsh with the authority the Lord gave me, authority meant for building you up, not tearing you down.

Finally, brothers and sisters — celebrate, put things back together, let my appeal encourage you, be united, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Greet each other with a genuine embrace.

Everyone who is set apart here sends their love to you.

May the generous favor of the Lord Jesus, The One, and the love of God, and the shared life of the Breath of God be with all of you.