2 Corinthians 13:7-10

New King James Version

Paul Prefers Gentleness

⁷Now ^[a]I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though ^(A)we may seem disqualified. ⁸For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. ⁹For we are glad ^(B)when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, ^(C)that you may be made complete. ¹⁰^(D)Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the ^(E)authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

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Footnotes

2 Corinthians 13:7 NU we

2 Corinthians 13:7-10

Young's Literal Translation

⁷and I pray before God that ye do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is right, and we may be as disapproved;

⁸for we are not able to do anything against the truth, but for the truth;

⁹for we rejoice when we may be infirm, and ye may be powerful; and this also we pray for -- your perfection!

¹⁰because of this, these things -- being absent -- I write, that being present, I may not treat [any] sharply, according to the authority that the Lord did give me for building up, and not for casting down.

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2 Corinthians 13:7-10

New American Standard Bible

⁷Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong; not so that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we may ^[a]appear unapproved. ⁸For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹For we rejoice when we ourselves are ^(A)weak, but you are strong; this we also pray for, ^[b]that you ^(B)become mature. ¹⁰For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present ^(C)I need not use ^(D)severity, in accordance with the ^(E)authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.