2 Corinthians 13

New International Version

Final Warnings

13 This will be my third visit to you.^(A) “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”^[a]^(B) ²I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time. I now repeat it while absent:^(C) On my return I will not spare^(D) those who sinned earlier^(E) or any of the others, ³since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me.^(F) He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. ⁴For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness,^(G) yet he lives by God’s power.^(H) Likewise, we are weak^(I) in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him^(J) in our dealing with you.

⁵Examine yourselves^(K) to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.^(L) Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you^(M)—unless, of course, you fail the test? ⁶And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. ⁷Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. ⁸For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. ⁹We are glad whenever we are weak^(N) but you are strong;^(O) and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.^(P) ¹⁰This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh^(Q) in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.^(R)

Final Greetings

¹¹Finally, brothers and sisters,^(S) rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.^(T) And the God of love^(U) and peace^(V) will be with you.

¹²Greet one another with a holy kiss.^(W) ¹³All God’s people here send their greetings.^(X)

¹⁴May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,^(Y) and the love of God,^(Z) and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit^(AA) be with you all.

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 13:1 Deut. 19:15

Psalm 132

New International Version

Psalm 132^(A)

A song of ascents.

¹Lord, remember David
and all his self-denial.^(B)

²He swore an oath to the Lord,
    he made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob:^(C)
³“I will not enter my house^(D)
    or go to my bed,
⁴I will allow no sleep to my eyes
    or slumber to my eyelids,
⁵till I find a place^(E) for the Lord,
    a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

⁶We heard it in Ephrathah,^(F)
    we came upon it in the fields of Jaar:^[a]^(G)
⁷“Let us go to his dwelling place,^(H)
    let us worship at his footstool,^(I) saying,
⁸‘Arise, Lord,^(J) and come to your resting place,
    you and the ark of your might.
⁹May your priests be clothed with your righteousness;^(K)
    may your faithful people^(L) sing for joy.’”

¹⁰For the sake of your servant David,
do not reject your anointed one.

¹¹The Lord swore an oath to David,^(M)
    a sure oath he will not revoke:
“One of your own descendants^(N)
    I will place on your throne.
¹²If your sons keep my covenant^(O)
    and the statutes I teach them,
then their sons will sit
    on your throne^(P) for ever and ever.”

¹³For the Lord has chosen Zion,^(Q)
    he has desired it for his dwelling,^(R) saying,
¹⁴“This is my resting place for ever and ever;^(S)
    here I will sit enthroned,^(T) for I have desired it.
¹⁵I will bless her with abundant provisions;
    her poor I will satisfy with food.^(U)
¹⁶I will clothe her priests^(V) with salvation,
    and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.^(W)

¹⁷“Here I will make a horn^[b] grow^(X) for David
and set up a lamp^(Y) for my anointed one.^(Z)
¹⁸I will clothe his enemies with shame,^(AA)
but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.”^(AB)

Footnotes

Psalm 132:6 Or heard of it in Ephrathah, / we found it in the fields of Jearim. (See 1 Chron. 13:5,6) (And no quotation marks around verses 7-9)
Psalm 132:17 Horn here symbolizes strong one, that is, king.