[和合本] 所以，我不在你们那里的时候把这话写给你们，好叫我见你们的时候，不用照主所给我的权柄严厉的待你们。这权柄原是为造就人，并不是为败坏人。
[新标点] 所以，我不在你们那里的时候，把这话写给你们，好叫我见你们的时候，不用照主所给我的权柄严厉地待你们。这权柄原是为造就人，并不是为败坏人。
[和合修] 所以，我不在你们那里的时候，把这些话写给你们，好使我见你们的时候不用照主所给我的权柄严厉地待你们；这权柄原是为造就人，而不是为摧毁人。
[新译本] 因此，我趁着不在你们那里的时候，把这些话写给你们，到我来了，就不必凭着主所给我的权柄严厉地对待你们。这权柄不是要拆毁你们，而是要建立你们。
[当代修] 我写这封信是预先警告你们，免得我到你们当中的时候，必须运用基督给我的权柄严厉地对待你们。基督赐给我这权柄是为了造就人，不是毁坏人。
[现代修] 因此，我在远离你们时写这封信，好使我跟你们见面的时候，不必使用主给我的职权严厉地对待你们。主给我的职权是要建立你们，不是要拆毁你们。
[吕振中] 故此我和你们不同在时写了这些话，好让我和你们同在时不必照主所赐给我、那为建立而不为攻倒、的权柄、严厉地措置。
[思高本] 为此，当我还未来到的时候，先写了这些，免得我来到的时候，要照主所赐给我的，那原是为建树而不是为破坏的权柄，严厉处置你们。
[文理本] 我暌违时书此、俾晤对时无事严厉、依主赐我之权以建立、非倾覆也、○
[GNT] That is why I write this while I am away from you; it is so that when I arrive I will not have to deal harshly with you in using the authority that the Lord has given me-authority to build you up, not to tear you down.
[BBE] For we are glad when we are feeble and you are strong: and this is our prayer, even that you may be made complete.
[KJV] Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.
[NKJV] Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.
[KJ21] Therefore I write these things being absent, lest, were I present, I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me for edification, and not for destruction.
[NASB] For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
[NRSV] So I write these things while I am away from you, so that when I come, I may not have to be severe in using the authority that the Lord has given me for building up and not for tearing down.
[WEB] For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.
[ESV] 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.
[NIV] This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority--the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
[NIrV] I'm glad when I am weak but you are strong. I pray that you will become perfect.
[HCSB] This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
[CSB] This is why I am writing these things while absent, that when I am there I will not use severity, in keeping with the authority the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
[AMP] So I write these things while I am absent from you, that when I come to you, I may not have to deal sharply in my use of the authority which the Lord has given me [to be employed, however] for building [you] up and not for tearing [you] down.
[NLT] I am writing this to you before I come, hoping that I won't need to deal severely with you when I do come. For I want to use the authority the Lord has given me to strengthen you, not to tear you down.
[YLT] because of this, these things -- being absent -- I write, that being present, I may not treat [any] sharply, according to the authority that the Lord did give me for building up, and not for casting down.