2 COR 13:7 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we ourselves might be seen as approved, but so that you yourselves might do the good, even if we ourselves might be as unapproved.

UST We pray to God that you may not be doing any bad things. We pray for this, not because we want people to consider that we have been successful in disciplining you, but so that you would be doing good things. We want this for you even if it means that people consider that we have failed because you did not need us.

BSB Now we pray to God [that] you will not do [anything] wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what [is] right, even if we appear to have failed.

MSB Now I pray[fn] to God [that] you will not do [anything] wrong—not that we will appear to have stood the test, but that you will do what [is] right, even if we appear to have failed.

BLB Now I pray to God for you to do nothing wrong. Not that we might appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we might appear as unapproved.

AICNT Now {we}[fn] pray to God that you do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear disqualified.

13:7, we: Later manuscripts read “I.” BYZ TR

OEB We pray to God that you may do nothing wrong, not that we may be seen to stand the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may seem not to stand the test.

WEBBE Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honourable, though we may seem to have failed.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Now we pray to God that you may not do anything wrong, not so that we may appear to have passed the test, but so that you may do what is right even if we may appear to have failed the test.

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

FBV We pray to God that you won't do anything bad—not so we can show we passed the test, but so you can do what is good, even if we appear to be failures.

TCNT [fn]I pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that we may appear to have met the test, but so that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to have failed.

13:7 I ¦ We CT

T4T But because I do not want to have to punish you, I am praying to God that he will help you not to do anything evil that would cause me to have to punish you. I pray this, not in order that when people who say that I am not your apostle realize that my ministry among you has been very successful, they will have to agree that I do have authority from Christ. Instead, I pray this because I want you to do what is right, even though that might mean that my opponents would think that I do not have authority from Christ, since I would not have an opportunity to show my authority to discipline you.

LEB Now we pray to God that you not do wrong in any way, not that we are seen as approved, but that you do what is good, even though we are seen as though unqualified.

BBE Now our prayer to God is that you may do no evil; not in order that it may be put to our credit, but so that you may do what is right, whatever we may seem.

Moff and I pray to God that you may not go wrong — not to prove I am a success, that is not the point, but that you should come right, even if I seemed to be a failure.

Wymth And our prayer to God is that you may do nothing wrong; not in order that our sincerity may be demonstrated, but that you may do what is right, even though our sincerity may seem to be doubtful.

ASV Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honorable, though we be as reprobate.

DRA Now we pray God, that you may do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is good, and that we may be as reprobates.

YLT and 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;

Drby But we pray to [fn]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.

13.7 Elohim

RV Now we pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye may do that which is honourable, though we be as reprobate.
(Now we pray to God that ye/you_all do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that ye/you_all may do that which is honourable, though we be as reprobate. )

SLT And I pray to God that ye do nothing evil; not that we appear tried, but that ye do good, and we be as untried.

Wbstr Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we should be as reprobates.

KJB-1769 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
(Now I pray to God that ye/you_all do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye/you_all should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. )

KJB-1611 Now I pray to God, that ye doe no euill, not that we should appeare approued, but that ye should doe y^t which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
(Now I pray to God, that ye/you_all do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that ye/you_all should do y^t which is honest, though we be as reprobates.)

Bshps Truely I pray to God that ye do none euyll, not that we shoulde seeme approued: but yt ye shoulde do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.
(Truly I pray to God that ye/you_all do none evil, not that we should seem approved: but it ye/you_all should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.)

Gnva Nowe I pray vnto God that yee doe none euill, not that we should seeme approued, but that ye should doe that which is honest: though we be as reprobates.
(Now I pray unto God that ye/you_all do none evil, not that we should seem approved, but that ye/you_all should do that which is honest: though we be as reprobates. )

Cvdl I desyre before God yt ye do no euell: not yt we shulde seme comendable, but yt ye shulde do yt which is good, & let vs be as cast awayes.
(I desire before God it ye/you_all do no evil: not it we should seem comingdable, but it ye/you_all should do it which is good, and let us be as cast aways.)

TNT I desyre before God that ye do none evyll not that we shuld seme comendable: but that ye shuld do that which is honest: and let vs be counted as leawde persones.
(I desire before God that ye/you_all do none evil not that we should seem comingdable: but that ye/you_all should do that which is honest: and let us be counted as leawde persones. )

Wycl And we preien the Lord, that ye do no thing of yuel; not that we seme preued, but that ye do that that is good, and that we ben as repreuable.
(And we preien the Lord, that ye/you_all do no thing of evil; not that we seem proved, but that ye/you_all do that that is good, and that we been as repreuable.)

Luth Ich bitte aber GOtt, daß ihr nichts Übles tut, nicht auf daß wir tüchtig gesehen werden, sondern auf daß ihr das Gute tut, und wir wie die Untüchtigen seien.
(I please but God, that you(pl)/their/her nothing Übles does, not on/in/to that we/us efficient/proficient seen become, rather on/in/to that you(pl)/their/her the goodness does, and we/us as/like the Untüchtigen be.)

ClVg Oramus autem Deum ut nihil mali faciatis, non ut nos probati appareamus, sed ut vos quod bonum est faciatis: nos autem ut reprobi simus.[fn]
(Oramus however God as nothing evil do_it, not/no as us approvesi appareamus, but as you(pl) that good it_is do_it: us however as reprobate we_are. )

13.7 Oramus autem, etc. Hoc orat Apostolus, ut his bene agentibus in eis corripienda non inveniat, et sic reprobi appareant: probati enim videntur, dum judicant peccatores. Sic ergo si non sint quos judicet, cessante auctoritate quasi reprobi videntur. Reprobi simus, id est appareamus reprobi, non habentes quod vindicemus vel dijudicemus.

13.7 Oramus however, etc. This prays Apostolus, as his well agentibus in/into/on to_them corripienda not/no find, and so reprobate appareant: approvesi because they_seem, while judgent sinners. So therefore when/but_if not/no let_them_be which he_will_judge, cessante by_authority as_if reprobate they_seem. Reprobi we_are, that it_is appareamus reprobate, not/no having that vindicemus or diyudicemus.

UGNT εὐχόμεθα δὲ πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν, μὴ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακὸν μηδέν; οὐχ ἵνα ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν, ἀλλ’ ἵνα ὑμεῖς τὸ καλὸν ποιῆτε, ἡμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν.
(euⱪometha de pros ton Theon, maʸ poiaʸsai humas kakon maʸden; ouⱪ hina haʸmeis dokimoi fanōmen, all’ hina humeis to kalon poiaʸte, haʸmeis de hōs adokimoi ōmen.)

SBL-GNT ⸀εὐχόμεθα δὲ πρὸς τὸν θεὸν μὴ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακὸν μηδέν, οὐχ ἵνα ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν, ἀλλʼ ἵνα ὑμεῖς τὸ καλὸν ποιῆτε, ἡμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν.
(⸀euⱪometha de pros ton theon maʸ poiaʸsai humas kakon maʸden, ouⱪ hina haʸmeis dokimoi fanōmen, allʼ hina humeis to kalon poiaʸte, haʸmeis de hōs adokimoi ōmen.)

RP-GNT Εὔχομαι δὲ πρὸς τὸν θεόν, μὴ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακὸν μηδέν, οὐχ ἵνα ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν, ἀλλ' ἵνα ὑμεῖς τὸ καλὸν ποιῆτε, ἡμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν.
(Euⱪomai de pros ton theon, maʸ poiaʸsai humas kakon maʸden, ouⱪ hina haʸmeis dokimoi fanōmen, all' hina humeis to kalon poiaʸte, haʸmeis de hōs adokimoi ōmen.)

TC-GNT [fn]Εὔχομαι δὲ πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, μὴ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακὸν μηδέν, οὐχ ἵνα ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα ὑμεῖς τὸ καλὸν ποιῆτε, ἡμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν.
(Euⱪomai de pros ton Theon, maʸ poiaʸsai humas kakon maʸden, ouⱪ hina haʸmeis dokimoi fanōmen, all hina humeis to kalon poiaʸte, haʸmeis de hōs adokimoi ōmen. )

13:7 ευχομαι ¦ ευχομεθα CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 13:1–10: Some warnings

In this section, Paul warned the believers that he would punish anyone who was sinning and refusing to repent (13:1–2). He said he would do that because some believers in Corinth were demanding proof from him that he was a true apostle (13:3a). He told them that he could work powerfully because Jesus is powerful (13:3b). He told them that they were weak in their natural abilities but had God’s power, as Jesus did when he lived on earth (13:4).

Then Paul commanded them to look carefully at themselves to see if they were truly believers or not (13:5). Paul expected that if they studied Paul’s words and deeds, then they would see that he was a true apostle (13:6). Paul told them that he and his coworkers prayed for the believers in Corinth that they would not sin and that they would do what was right (13:7). Paul told them that he and his coworkers worked in accordance with the truth (13:8). He told the believers that he prayed that they would always do as God wanted them to do (13:9). He told them that he wrote about their problems so that they would correct those problems themselves. Then he would encourage them when he went there and would not have to discipline them (13:10).

Other examples for this section heading are:

Examine Yourselves (NASB)

Paul gave final warnings

Final warnings and greetings

13:7a

Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—

But we^(excl) ask God to help you^(plur) not to do anything bad/evil,
And we are praying that God will help you to live in only good ways.

Now: Here this word introduces a new but related theme. There is some contrast with what Paul had said in 13:6, and some versions translate the word to indicate that. For example:

But (RSV)

In some languages it is more natural to allow the context to indicate the connection and omit the conjunction. For example:

We pray… (GNT)

we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong: This clause refers to asking God to help the believers so that they will not do anything wrong.

do anything wrong: This phrase refers to doing things that believers should not do. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

do any evil

doing evil things (CEV)

commit sin

13:7b

not that we will appear to have stood the test,

not in order that people will think that God has approved us as apostles,
We are not praying that way so that people will say that we have God’s approval.

not that: This phrase introduces what is not the purpose for Paul to pray to God in 13:7a. Paul wanted the believers to behave correctly in all things (13:7a). He wanted them to agree that Paul was a true apostle. But that was not the reason why he wanted them to behave correctly. He wanted them to behave correctly to honor God. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

My purpose is not that

I am not saying this in order that

We don’t pray like this to (CEV)

we will appear to have stood the test: The Greek words here are literally “we may appear approved.” “Approved” indicates that Paul and the others were able to show that God gave them the work of apostles. Other ways to translate this are:

we may appear to have met the test (RSV)

to show that we are a success (GNT)

we ourselves may appear approved (NASB)

13:7c

but that you will do what is right,

but that you will act properly according to your faith,
No, we are praying in that way so that you will live in right ways

but that: This phrase introduces what the purpose is for Paul to pray to God in 13:7a. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

Rather, my purpose is that

Instead, I pray like this in order that

you will do what is right: This clause refers to following the ways of Jesus. Paul wants the believers to do what Jesus says is right. Other ways to translate this clause are:

I just want your lives to be straight

you will do the deeds that Jesus says are right to do

13:7d

even if we appear to have failed.

even though it might seem/appear that God has not approved us as apostles.
even though some people would think that we still have no proof that we are apostles.

even if we appear to have failed: Some people might have thought that God had not made Paul an apostle. Their opinions were not important to Paul. He wanted the believers to do what was right regardless of what people thought. Other ways to translate this are:

even though we may seem to be failures (GNT)

even though we may appear unapproved (NASB)

even if it seems as if we have not passed the test

have failed: This is the same Greek word that the BSB translates as “failed the test” in 13:5d and 13:6. See how you translated it there.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: writing-newevent

δὲ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: εὐχόμεθα Δέ πρός τόν Θεόν μή ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακόν μηδέν οὐχ ἵνα ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν ἀλλʼ ἵνα ὑμεῖς τό καλόν ποιῆτε ἡμεῖς δέ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν)

Paul is using the word translated Now to introduce a slightly new topic. Use a word, phrase, or other method in your language that is natural for this, or it may be more natural to leave it out. Alternate translation: [Also,]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / doublenegatives

μὴ ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακὸν μηδέν

If it would be clearer in your language, you could use a positive expression to translate this double negative that consists of the negative particle not and the negative word wrong. Alternate translation: [you may do everything right]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν

we approved ˓may_be˒_seen

If your language does not use the passive form in these ways, you could express the ideas in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who does the actions, it is people in general who do the seeing and either God or people who do the approving. Alternate translation: [people see that, for our part, God approves of us] or [people see our work with you and approve of us, the workers]

δόκιμοι

approved

Alternate translation: [having gained God’s approval]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / rpronouns

ἡμεῖς & ὑμεῖς & ἡμεῖς

we & you_all & we

Paul uses the words ourselves and yourselves to emphasize the difference between his thinking and the thinking of the Corinthian believers. He wants only good for them, while they suspect that he wants only good for himself. Use a way that is natural in your language to indicate this significance. If you use the following suggestion, it will need a comma before each phrase. Alternate translation: [on our part, … on your part, … on our part,]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ἡμεῖς δὲ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν

we we (Some words not found in SR-GNT: εὐχόμεθα Δέ πρός τόν Θεόν μή ποιῆσαι ὑμᾶς κακόν μηδέν οὐχ ἵνα ἡμεῖς δόκιμοι φανῶμεν ἀλλʼ ἵνα ὑμεῖς τό καλόν ποιῆτε ἡμεῖς δέ ὡς ἀδόκιμοι ὦμεν)

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the approving, it is either God or people in general. Alternate translation: [even if it seems that God has not approved of us ourselves] or [even if people think that we ourselves have had no part in your success]

Parallel 2 COR 13:7

Section 13:1–10: Some warnings

13:7a

13:7b

13:7c

13:7d

Parallel 2 COR 13:7