哥林多後書 8
1 弟兄們，我把上帝賜給馬其頓眾教會的恩告訴你們，
Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia.
2 就是他們在患難中受大試煉的時候，仍有滿足的快樂，在極窮之間還格外顯出他們樂捐的厚恩。
During a severe trial of affliction, their abundant joy and their deep poverty abounded in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3 我可以證明，他們是按着力量，而且也過了力量，自己甘心樂意地捐助，
For I testify that according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
4 再三地求我們，准他們在這供給聖徒的恩情上有分；
urgently begging us for the privilege of contributing to the gift for the saints in Jerusalem.
5 並且他們所做的，不但照我們所想望的，更照上帝的旨意先把自己獻給主，又歸附了我們。
And they did not do this in the way we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by the will of God.
6 因此我勸提多，既然在你們中間開辦這慈惠的事，就當辦成了。
So we have urged Titus, who previously encouraged you to begin gathering money, to return and help you complete this gracious gift.
7 你們既然在信心、口才、知識、熱心，和待我們的愛心上，都格外顯出滿足來，就當在這慈惠的事上也格外顯出滿足來。
But just as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in your love for us—make sure you abound in this gracious gift as well.
8 我說這話，不是吩咐你們，乃是藉着別人的熱心試驗你們愛心的實在。
I am not saying this as a command, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
9 你們知道我們主耶穌基督的恩典：他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮，叫你們因他的貧窮，可以成為富足。
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you could become rich.
10 我在這事上把我的意見告訴你們，是與你們有益；因為你們下手辦這事，而且起此心意，已經有一年了，
So I am giving my advice about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were not only the first who wanted to give, but you were also the first to begin doing so.
11 如今就當辦成這事。既有願做的心，也當照你們所有的去辦成。
Now finish doing it, so that your eager willingness to give may be matched by your completion of the gift, according to what you have.
12 因為人若有願做的心，必蒙悅納，乃是照他所有的，並不是照他所無的。
For if the eager willingness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
13 我原不是要別人輕省，你們受累，
I do not mean there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a matter of equality. At the present time your abundance should provide for their need,
14 乃要均平，就是要你們的富餘，現在可以補他們的不足，使他們的富餘，將來也可以補你們的不足，這就均平了。
so that in turn their abundance may provide for your need, and thus there may be equality.
15 如經上所記： 多收的也沒有餘； 少收的也沒有缺。
As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
16 多謝上帝，感動提多的心，叫他待你們殷勤，像我一樣。
But thanks be to God, who has put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care for you that I have.
17 他固然是聽了我的勸，但自己更是熱心，情願往你們那裏去。
For Titus not only accepted our appeal, but with great enthusiasm he is coming to you of his own accord.
18 我們還打發一位兄弟和他同去，這人在福音上得了眾教會的稱讚。
With him we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
19 不但這樣，他也被眾教會挑選，和我們同行，把所託與我們的這捐資送到了，可以榮耀主，又表明我們樂意的心。
And not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we administer this gracious gift for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our eager willingness to help.
20 這就免得有人因我們收的捐銀很多，就挑我們的不是。
We are taking this precaution so that no one will discredit us with respect to this large sum that we are administering.
21 我們留心行光明的事，不但在主面前，就在人面前也是這樣。
For we are giving careful thought to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.
22 我們又打發一位兄弟同去；這人的熱心，我們在許多事上屢次試驗過。現在他因為深信你們，就更加熱心了。
We are also sending with them our brother whom we have often tested and found to be earnest in many matters, and now he is even more earnest because of his great confidence in you.
23 論到提多，他是我的同伴，一同為你們勞碌的。論到那兩位兄弟，他們是眾教會的使者，是基督的榮耀。
If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service. If there is any question about our brothers, they are delegates of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 所以，你們務要在眾教會面前顯明你們愛心的憑據，並我所誇獎你們的憑據。
Therefore show them in front of all the churches the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.
