14 Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not

what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents

for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more,

am I to be loved less? 16 But granting that 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 through any of those whom

I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go, and sent 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 in the

sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ, and all for your upbuilding, beloved.

20 For I fear that perhaps 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 who sinned earlier and have not repented

of the impurity, sexual immorality, and sensuality that they have practiced.

1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence

of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned 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 if I come again I will

not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in

dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by

the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him

by the power of God.

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not

realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the

test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7 But we pray to God that you

may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is

right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but

only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is

what we pray for. 10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that when

I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me for

building up and not for tearing down.

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one

another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another

with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.

14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

be with you all.

2 Corinthians 12:14 - 21; 13:1-14 ESV