2 Corinthians, 8

1. And so we are making known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given in the churches of Macedonia.

1. Priopæujemo vam, braæo, milost Božju koja je dana crkvama makedonskim:

2. For within a great experience of tribulation, they have had an abundance of joy, and their profound poverty has only increased the richness of their simplicity.

2. unatoè mnogim kušnjama i nevoljama izobilna njihova radost i skrajnje siromaštvo preli se u bogatstvo darežljivosti.

3. And I bear witness to them, that they were willing to accept what was in accord with their ability, and even what was beyond their ability.

3. Svjedoèim uistinu: oni su nas dragovoljno - po svojim moguænostima i preko moguænosti -

4. For they were begging us, with great exhortation, for the grace and the communication of the ministry that is with the saints.

4. veoma usrdno molili za milost zajedništva u ovom posluživanju svetih.

5. And this is beyond what we had hoped, since they gave themselves, first of all to the Lord, and then also to us, through the will of God,

5. I to ne samo kako se nadasmo, nego same sebe predadoše najprvo Gospodinu, a onda nama, po volji Božjoj.

6. so much so that we petitioned Titus, that in the same manner as he had begun, he would also complete in you this same grace.

6. Zato zamolismo Tita da kao što je zapoèeo, tako i dovrši meðu vama i to djelo darežljivosti.

7. But, just as in all things you abound in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all solicitude, and even more so in your charity toward us, so also may you abound in this grace.

7. Stoga kao što se u svemu odlikujete - u vjeri, i rijeèi, i spoznanju, i svakoj gorljivosti, i u ljubavi svojoj prema nama - odlikujte se i u ovoj darežljivosti.

8. I am speaking, not commanding. But through the solicitude of others, I approve of the good character of your charity.

8. Ne zapovijedam, nego gorljivošæu drugih prokušavam istinitost vaše ljubavi.

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

9. Ta poznate darežljivost Gospodina našega Isusa Krista! Premda bogat, radi vas posta siromašan, da se vi njegovim siromaštvom obogatite.

10. And about this, I give my counsel. For this is useful to those of you who, only a year earlier, had just begun to act, or even to be willing to act.

10. Time dajem samo savjet: to doista dolikuje vama koji veæ prošle godine prvi to zapoèeste, ne samo èinom nego i odlukom.

11. So, truly now, accomplish this in deed, so that, in the same manner as your willing mind is prompted, you may also act, out of that which you have.

11. Sada dovršite to djelo da kao što spremno odluèiste, tako prema moguænostima i dovršite.

12. For when the will is prompted, it receives according to what that person has, not according to what that person does not have.

12. Jer ima li spremnosti, mila je po onom što ima, a ne po onom èega nema.

13. And it is not that others should be relieved, while you are troubled, but that there should be an equality.

13. Ne dakako: drugima olakšica, vama oskudica, nego - jednakost!

14. In this present time, let your abundance supply their need, so that their abundance may also supply your need, in order that there may be an equality, just as it was written:

14. U sadašnjem trenutku vaš suvišak za njihovu oskudicu da jednom njihov suvišak bude za vašu oskudicu - te bude jednakost,

15. “He with more did not have too much; and he with less did not have too little.”

15. kao što je pisano: Nije ništa preteklo onome koji bijaše nakupio mnogo, a niti je nedostajalo onome koji bijaše nakupio manje.

16. But thanks be to God, who has granted to the heart of Titus, this same solicitude for you.

16. A hvala Bogu koji je stavio jednaku gorljivost za vas u srce Titovo.

17. For certainly, he accepted the exhortation. But since he was more solicitous, he went to you of his own free will.

17. On je prihvatio i molbu, ali buduæi da je veoma revan, otiðe k vama i dragovoljno.

18. And we have even sent with him a brother whose praise accompanies the Gospel throughout all the churches.

18. S njime pak šaljemo brata kojega s evanðelja slave sve crkve.

19. And not only that, but he was also chosen by the churches to be a companion for our sojourn in this grace, which is ministered by us with our determined will, to the glory of the Lord.

19. Štoviše, crkve ga izabraše za našeg suputnika u ovom djelu darežljivosti kojemu služimo - na slavu samoga Gospodina i na našu želju

20. So let us avoid this, lest anyone disparage us over the abundance that is ministered by us.

20. kako bismo izbjegli da nas tko ne prekori zbog ovog obilja kojim raspolažemo.

21. For we provide for what is good, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men.

21. Doista, revno nastojimo oko dobra ne samo pred Gospodinom nego i pred ljudima.

22. And we have also sent with them our brother, whom we have proven to be frequently solicitous in many matters. But now there is a greater solicitousness, which is greatly entrusted to you;

22. Šaljemo s njima i našega brata koji je, kako smo u mnogome èesto iskusili, gorljiv, a sada je još mnogo gorljiviji zbog velikoga pouzdanja u vas.

23. and whether it concerns Titus, who is a companion to me and a helper to you, or whether it concerns our brothers, the Apostles of the churches, it is to the glory of Christ.

23. A Tito? Moj je drug i suradnik za vas. A braæa naša? Poslanici su crkava, slava Kristova.

24. Therefore, in the sight of the churches, show them the proof of your charity and of our glorying about you.

24. Pružite im dakle pred crkvama dokaz svoje ljubavi i toga da se s pravom vama ponosimo.