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. Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

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. How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

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 to [their] power, I bear record, yea, and beyond [their] power [they were] willing of themselves;

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. Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and [take upon us] the fellowship of the ministering to 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 they did], not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto 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. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

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. Therefore, as ye abound in every [thing, in] faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and [in] all diligence, and [in] your love to us, [see] that ye abound in this grace also.

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

8. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

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 ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be 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 herein I give [my] advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

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. Now therefore perform the doing [of it]; that as [there was] a readiness to will, so [there may be] a performance also out of that which ye 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 there be first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to that a man hath, [and] not according to that he hath 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. For [I mean] not that other men be eased, and ye 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 by an equality, [that] now at this time your abundance [may be a supply] for their want, that their abundance also may be [a supply] for 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 that [had gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [had 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, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

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 indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

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

18. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise [is] in the gospel throughout all the churches;

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 [that] only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and [declaration of] your ready mind:

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. Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

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. Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, 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 we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which [I have] 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. Whether [any do enquire] of Titus, [he is] my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren [be enquired of, they are] the messengers of the churches, [and] 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. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.