2 Corinthians, 8

1. Next, brothers, we will tell you of the grace of God which has been granted to the churches of Macedonia,

1. We want you to know, brethren, about the grace of God which has been shown in the churches of Macedo'nia,

2. and how, throughout continual ordeals of hardship, their unfailing joy and their intense poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

2. for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of liberality on their part.

3. I can testify that it was of their own accord that they made their gift, which was not merely as far as their resources would allow, but well beyond their resources;

3. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will,

4. and they had kept imploring us most insistently for the privilege of a share in the fellowship of service to God's holy people-

4. begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints --

5. it was not something that we expected of them, but it began by their offering themselves to the Lord and to us at the prompting of the will of God.

5. and this, not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

6. In the end we urged Titus, since he had already made a beginning, also to bring this work of generosity to completion among you.

6. Accordingly we have urged Titus that as he had already made a beginning, he should also complete among you this gracious work.

7. More, as you are rich in everything-faith, eloquence, understanding, concern for everything, and love for us too -- then make sure that you excel in this work of generosity too.

7. Now as you excel in everything -- in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us -- see that you excel in this gracious work also.

8. I am not saying this as an order, but testing the genuineness of your love against the concern of others.

8. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.

9. You are well aware of the generosity which our Lord Jesus Christ had, that, although he was rich, he became poor for your sake, so that you should become rich through his poverty.

9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

10. I will give you my considered opinion in the matter; this will be the right course for you as you were the first, a year ago, not only to take any action but also even to conceive the project.

10. And in this matter I give my advice: it is best for you now to complete what a year ago you began not only to do but to desire,

11. Now, then, complete the action as well, so that the fulfilment may -- so far as your resources permit -- be proportionate to your enthusiasm for the project.

11. so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

12. As long as the enthusiasm is there, the basis on which it is acceptable is what someone has, not what someone does not have.

12. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he has not.

13. It is not that you ought to relieve other people's needs and leave yourselves in hardship; but there should be a fair balance-

13. I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened,

14. your surplus at present may fill their deficit, and another time their surplus may fill your deficit. So there may be a fair balance;

14. but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality.

15. as scripture says: No one who had collected more had too much, no one who collected less had too little.

15. As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

16. Thank God for putting into Titus' heart the same sincere concern for you.

16. But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17. He certainly took our urging to heart; but greater still was his own enthusiasm, and he went off to you of his own accord.

17. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord.

18. We have sent with him the brother who is praised as an evangelist in all the churches

18. With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel;

19. and who, what is more, was elected by the churches to be our travelling companion in this work of generosity, a work to be administered by us for the glory of the Lord and our complete satisfaction.

19. and not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work which we are carrying on, for the glory of the Lord and to show our good will.

20. We arranged it this way so that no one should be able to make any accusation against us about this large sum we are administering.

20. We intend that no one should blame us about this liberal gift which we are administering,

21. And so we have been careful to do right not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of people.

21. for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of men.

22. Along with these, we have sent a brother of ours whose eagerness we have tested over and over again in many ways and who is now all the more eager because he has so much faith in you.

22. And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you.

23. If Titus is in question -- he is my own partner and fellow-worker in your interests; and if our brothers -- they are the emissaries of the churches and the glory of Christ.

23. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service; and as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24. So then, in full view of all the churches, give proof that you love them, and that we were right to boast of you to them.

24. So give proof, before the churches, of your love and of our boasting about you to these men.