2 Corinthians 12:14-13:4

English Standard Version

¹⁴ Here ^(A)for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for ^(B)I seek not what is yours but you. For ^(C)children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but ^(D)parents for their children. ^15 (E)I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If ^(F)I love you more, am I to be loved less? ¹⁶ But granting that ^(G)I myself did not burden you, I was crafty, you say, and got the better of you by deceit. ¹⁷ Did I take advantage of you ^(H)through any of those whom I sent to you? ^18 (I)I urged Titus to go, and sent ^(J)the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

¹⁹ Have you been thinking all along that we have been defending ourselves to you? It is ^(K)in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and ^(L)all for your upbuilding, beloved. ²⁰ For I fear that perhaps ^(M)when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. ²¹ I fear that when I come again my God may humble me before you, and I may have to mourn over many of those ^(N)who sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, ^(O)sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

Final Warnings

13 ^(P)This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established ^(Q)by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ^2 (R)I warned ^(S)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 ^(T)if I come again I will not spare them— ³ since you seek proof that Christ ^(U)is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but ^(V)is powerful among you. ⁴ For ^(W)he was crucified in weakness, but ^(X)lives by the power of God. For ^(Y)we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you ^(Z)we will live with him by the power of God.