1 This third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every matter be established.2 I have declared beforehand, and I say beforehand as present the second time, and now absent, to those that have sinned before, and to all the rest, that if I come again I will not spare.3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, (who is not weak towards you, but is powerful among you,4 for if indeed he has been crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power; for indeed *we* are weak in him, but we shall live with him by God's power towards you,)5 examine your own selves if ye be in the faith; prove your own selves: do ye not recognise yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed ye be reprobates?6 Now I hope that ye will know that *we* are not reprobates.7 But we pray to God that ye may do nothing evil; not that *we* may appear approved, but that *ye* may do what is right, and *we* be as reprobates.8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.9 For we rejoice when *we* may be weak and *ye* may be powerful. But this also we pray for, your perfecting.10 On this account I write these things being absent, that being present I may not use severity according to the authority which the Lord has given me for building up, and not for overthrowing.11 For the rest, brethren, rejoice; be perfected; be encouraged; be of one mind; be at peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.12 Salute one another with a holy kiss.13 All the saints salute you.14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, {be} with you all.

1 Dit is die derde keer dat ek na julle toe kom. In die mond van twee of drie getuies sal elke woord vasstaan.2 Ek het dit vroeër gesê, en ek sê dit vooruit soos toe ek die tweede keer aanwesig was, en ek skrywe dit nou in my afwesigheid aan die wat vroeër gesondig het en aan al die ander, dat as ek weer kom, ek nie sal spaar nie,3 aangesien julle 'n bewys soek van Christus wat in my spreek, en Hy is teenoor julle nie swak nie, maar kragtig onder julle.4 Want al is Hy gekruisig uit swakheid, lewe Hy tog uit die krag van God. Want ons is ook swak in Hom, maar ons sal saam met Hom vir julle lewe deur die krag van God.5 Ondersoek julself of julle in die geloof is; stel julself op die proef. Of is julle nie seker van julself dat Jesus Christus in julle is nie -- as julle ten minste nie verwerplik is nie!6 Maar ek hoop dat julle sal insien dat ons nie verwerplik is nie.7 Ek bid God dat julle geen kwaad mag doen nie -- nie dat ons beproef mag blyk nie, maar dat julle kan doen wat goed is, en ons as verwerplikes kan wees.8 Want ons kan niks doen teen die waarheid nie, maar wel v¡r die waarheid.9 Want ons is bly as ons swak is en julle sterk. En hierom bid ons ook, naamlik om julle volmaking.10 Daarom skryf ek dit in my afwesigheid om nie, as ek teenwoordig is, strengheid te gebruik nie, volgens die gesag wat die Here my gegee het om op te bou en nie om af te breek nie.11 Verder, broeders, wees bly; word volmaak; laat julle vermaan; wees eensgesind; hou vrede, en die God van liefde en vrede sal met julle wees.12 Groet mekaar met 'n heilige kus.