2 Corinthians 13:9

We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature. For wee are glad when wee are weake, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, euen your perfection. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for. For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak, but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you become mature. We are happy to be weak, if you are strong, and we pray that you will become complete. We are glad when we are weak [since God's power comes freely through us], but you [by comparison] are strong. We also pray for this, that you be made complete [fully restored, growing and maturing in godly character and spirit—pleasing your heavenly Father by the life you live]. For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete. For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong. This we also pray for, that you be restored. In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection. Even though we are weak, we are glad that you are strong, and we pray that you will do even better. So we rejoice whenever we are weak and you are strong; indeed, what we pray for is that you become perfect. For we rejoice when *we* may be weak and *ye* may be powerful. But this also we pray for, your perfecting. We are happy to be weak if you are strong. And this is what we pray—that your lives will be made completely right again. For we are glad when wee are weake, and that ye are strong: this also we wish for, euen your perfection. For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong: and this also we pray for, that you may be perfected. We are glad when we are weak but you are strong. And so we also pray that you will become perfect. For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong, and we pray for this: your maturity. For we rejoice when we are weak and you are powerful. But we pray for this also, your perfection. For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting. For we are glad when we are feeble and you are strong: and this is our prayer, even that you may be made complete. For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting. We are glad when we are weak and you are strong. That is what we are praying for - your maturity.1 Corinthians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 11:30; 1 Thessalonians 3:10;">[xr] For we rejoice when we are weak, and you are strong: but this also we pray, that you may be perfect. And we rejoice, when we are weak and ye are strong. And this also we pray for, that ye may be perfected. For we are glad when we are weake, and ye are strong. Truely this also we wishe, euen your perfection. For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting. For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting. For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. and it is a joy to us when we are powerless, but you are strong. This we also pray for--the perfecting of your characters. For we ioyen, whanne we ben sijk, but ye ben myyti; and we preien this thing, youre perfeccioun. For we rejoice, when we are weak, and you are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting. For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, [even] your perfection. For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete. We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature. We are glad when we are weak and you are strong. We pray that you will become strong Christians. For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may become perfect. For we rejoice - whensoever, we, are weak, and, ye, are, strong. This, also we pray for - your restoration: - For we rejoice that we are weak and you are strong. This also we pray for, your perfection. For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. What we pray for is your improvement. We are glad when we are weake and ye stronge. This also we wisshe for even that ye were perfect. for we rejoice when we may be infirm, and ye may be powerful; and this also we pray for -- your perfection! for we rejoice when we may be weak, but you may be powerful; and we also pray for this—your perfection! We are glad whan we are weake, & ye stronge: & the same also we wysshe for, namely yor perfectnesse. I am therefore glad when I am disarm'd by the strength of your integrity: and this is what I pray for, even your perfection. We'll gladly appear weak if it makes y'all strong. Your growth is all we care about.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
We rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray that you become fully mature.

King James Version (1611)
For wee are glad when wee are weake, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, euen your perfection.

King James Version
For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

English Standard Version
For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.

New American Standard Bible
For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak, but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you become mature.

New Century Version
We are happy to be weak, if you are strong, and we pray that you will become complete.

Amplified Bible
We are glad when we are weak [since God's power comes freely through us], but you [by comparison] are strong. We also pray for this, that you be made complete [fully restored, growing and maturing in godly character and spirit—pleasing your heavenly Father by the life you live].

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong; this we also pray for, that you be made complete.

Legacy Standard Bible
For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong. This we also pray for, that you be restored.

Berean Standard Bible
In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.

Contemporary English Version
Even though we are weak, we are glad that you are strong, and we pray that you will do even better.

Complete Jewish Bible
So we rejoice whenever we are weak and you are strong; indeed, what we pray for is that you become perfect.

Darby Translation
For we rejoice when *we* may be weak and *ye* may be powerful. But this also we pray for, your perfecting.

Easy-to-Read Version
We are happy to be weak if you are strong. And this is what we pray—that your lives will be made completely right again.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For we are glad when wee are weake, and that ye are strong: this also we wish for, euen your perfection.

George Lamsa Translation
For we are glad, when we are weak, and you are strong: and this also we pray for, that you may be perfected.

Good News Translation
We are glad when we are weak but you are strong. And so we also pray that you will become perfect.

Lexham English Bible
For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong, and we pray for this: your maturity.

Literal Translation
For we rejoice when we are weak and you are powerful. But we pray for this also, your perfection.

American Standard Version
For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.

Bible in Basic English
For we are glad when we are feeble and you are strong: and this is our prayer, even that you may be made complete.

Hebrew Names Version
For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting.

International Standard Version
We are glad when we are weak and you are strong. That is what we are praying for - your maturity.1 Corinthians 4:10; 2 Corinthians 11:30; 1 Thessalonians 3:10;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For we rejoice when we are weak, and you are strong: but this also we pray, that you may be perfect.

Murdock Translation
And we rejoice, when we are weak and ye are strong. And this also we pray for, that ye may be perfected.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For we are glad when we are weake, and ye are strong. Truely this also we wishe, euen your perfection.

English Revised Version
For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.

World English Bible
For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

Weymouth's New Testament
and it is a joy to us when we are powerless, but you are strong. This we also pray for--the perfecting of your characters.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For we ioyen, whanne we ben sijk, but ye ben myyti; and we preien this thing, youre perfeccioun.

Update Bible Version
For we rejoice, when we are weak, and you are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.

Webster's Bible Translation
For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, [even] your perfection.

New English Translation
For we rejoice whenever we are weak, but you are strong. And we pray for this: that you may become fully qualified.

New King James Version
For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.

New Living Translation
We are glad to seem weak if it helps show that you are actually strong. We pray that you will become mature.

New Life Bible
We are glad when we are weak and you are strong. We pray that you will become strong Christians.

New Revised Standard
For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. This is what we pray for, that you may become perfect.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For we rejoice - whensoever, we, are weak, and, ye, are, strong. This, also we pray for - your restoration: -

Douay-Rheims Bible
For we rejoice that we are weak and you are strong. This also we pray for, your perfection.

Revised Standard Version
For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. What we pray for is your improvement.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
We are glad when we are weake and ye stronge. This also we wisshe for even that ye were perfect.

Young's Literal Translation
for we rejoice when we may be infirm, and ye may be powerful; and this also we pray for -- your perfection!

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
We are glad whan we are weake, & ye stronge: & the same also we wysshe for, namely yor perfectnesse.

Mace New Testament (1729)
I am therefore glad when I am disarm'd by the strength of your integrity: and this is what I pray for, even your perfection.

Simplified Cowboy Version
We'll gladly appear weak if it makes y'all strong. Your growth is all we care about.

Contextual Overview

⁷But we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to fail. ⁷ Now I pray to God, that ye doe no euill, not that we should appeare approued, but that ye should doe that which is honest, though we be as reprobates. ⁷ 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. 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. ⁷ Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong; not so that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, though we may appear unapproved. ⁷ We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. It is not important to see that we have passed the test, but it is important that you do what is right, even if it seems we have failed. ⁷But I pray to God that you may do nothing wrong. Not so that we [and our teaching] may appear to be approved, but that you may continue doing what is right, even though we [by comparison] may seem to have failed. ⁷ Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. ⁷Now we pray to God that you do no wrong, not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved. ⁷Now 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.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: 2 Corinthians 13:8, 2 Corinthians 11:30, 2 Corinthians 12:5-10, 1 Corinthians 4:10

even: 2 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Corinthians 13:11, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 4:13, Philippians 3:12-15, Colossians 1:28, Colossians 4:12, 1 Thessalonians 3:10, 2 Timothy 3:17, Hebrews 6:1, Hebrews 12:23, Hebrews 13:21, 1 Peter 5:10

Reciprocal: Matthew 5:48 - ye 1 Corinthians 4:8 - ye did 2 Corinthians 4:12 - death 2 Corinthians 11:29 - is weak 2 Corinthians 12:10 - for when 2 Corinthians 12:20 - I shall not Philippians 1:8 - how

Cross-References

Genesis 13:8
Avram said to Lot, "Please, let there be no strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are relatives.

Genesis 13:8
And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.

Genesis 13:8
Then Abram said to Lot, "Please, let there not be quarreling between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds, for we men are brothers.

Genesis 13:8
Abram said to Lot, "There should be no arguing between you and me, or between your herdsmen and mine, because we are brothers.

Genesis 13:8
Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no quarreling between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are close relatives.

Genesis 13:8
So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife and disagreement between you and me, nor between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, because we are relatives.

Genesis 13:8
So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are relatives!

Genesis 13:8
Then saide Abram vnto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, betweene thee and me, neither betweene mine heardmen & thine heardmen: for we be brethren.

Genesis 13:8
So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.

Genesis 13:8
Abram said to Lot, "We are close relatives. We shouldn't argue, and our men shouldn't be fighting one another.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For we are glad when we are weak,.... Appear to be so, look like persons disarmed of all power and authority; the apostles rejoiced when they had no occasion of exerting themselves, and of exercising that high office, and extraordinary commission they had received of Christ Jesus:

and ye are strong; stand fast in the doctrine of faith, and are lively and active in the exercise of the grace of faith; are strong in Christ, and in his grace, and in the power of his might, to withstand every temptation of Satan, every corruption of their own hearts, and to perform every duty aright.

And this also we wish, even your perfection; or restoration, or jointing in again; a metaphor taken from the setting of bones that are dislocated and out of joint; for the church at Corinth was like a disjointed body, and the apostle's wish was, that their animosities might cease, their divisions be healed, their disorders rectified, and each member be in its proper place, behaving as became the Gospel of Christ; see 1 Corinthians 1:10.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For we are glad when we are weak ... - We rejoice in your welfare, and are willing to submit to self-denial and to infirmity if it may promote your spiritual strength. In the connection in which this stands it seems to mean, “I am content to appear weak, provided you do no wrong; I am willing not to have occasion to exercise my power in punishing offenders, and had rather lie under the reproach of being actually weak, than to have occasion to exercise my power by punishing you for wrongdoing; and provided you are strong in the faith and in the hope of the gospel, I am very willing, nay, I rejoice that I am under this necessity of appearing weak.”

And this also we wish - I desire this in addition to your doing no evil.

Even your perfection - The word used here (κατάρτισις katartisis) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, though the verb from which it is derived (καταρτίζω katartizō) occurs often; Matthew 4:21; Matthew 21:16; Mark 1:19; Luke 6:40; Romans 9:22; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Galatians 6:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:10, et al.; see the note on 2 Corinthians 13:11. On the meaning of the word see Romans 9:22. The idea of restoring, putting in order, fitting, repairing, is involved in the word “always,” and hence, the idea of making perfect; that is, of completely restoring anything to its proper place. Here it evidently means that Paul wished their entire reformation - so that there should be no occasion for exercising discipline. Doddridge renders it, “perfect good order.” Macknight, “restoration.” For this restoration of good order Paul had diligently labored in these epistles; and this was an object near to his heart.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 13:9. For we are glad, when we are weak — It will give me indescribable pleasure that I should still appear to be poor, despicable, and destitute of this extraordinary power with which God has clothed me, so that you be strong in all the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit.

And this also we wish, even your perfection. — We cannot be satisfied that persons, with such eminent endowments, and who have once received the truth as it is in Jesus, should be deficient in any of the graces that constitute the mind of Christ; such as brotherly love, charity, harmony, unity, and order. I have given the above paraphrase to this verse, because of the last term καταρτισιν, which we render perfection. καταρτισις, from κατα, intensive, and αρτιζω, to fit or adapt, signifies the reducing of a dislocated limb to its proper place; and hence, as Beza says on this passage: "The apostle's meaning is, that whereas the members of the Church were all, as it were, dislocated and out of joint, they should be joined together in love; and they should endeavour to make perfect what was amiss among them, either in faith or morals."

It is a metaphor, also, taken from a building; the several stones and timbers being all put in their proper places and situations, so that the whole building might be complete, and be a proper habitation for the owner. The same figure, though not in the same terms, the apostle uses, Ephesians 2:20-22.

The perfection or rejointing which the apostle wishes is that which refers to the state of the Church in its fellowship, unity, order, c. And perfection in the soul is the same, in reference to it, as perfection in the Church is to its order and unity. The perfection or rejointing of the soul implies its purification, and placing every faculty, passion, and appetite in its proper place so that the original order, harmony, unity, and purity of the soul may be restored; and the whole builded up to be a habitation of God through the Spirit, Ephesians 2:22.