2 Corinthians 8

1 Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace of God that has been bestowed upon the congregations of Macedonia,

2 In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.

that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their extreme poverty produced their extravagant, sincere generosity.

3 For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,

Because according to their ability, I bear witness, even beyond that ability, of their own accord,

4 they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

they begged us with much entreaty to receive the gift, the sharing in the ministry to the saints

5 And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God.

—and more than we had hoped, they first gave themselves to the Lord (and due to God's will, to us).

6 So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.

So we urged Titus that as he had made a beginning so he should also bring to completion in you this grace as well;

7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

that as you excel in everything—in faith, in word, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—that you excel in this grace too.

8 I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others.

I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

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

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

10 And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.

So here is my advice in this (since already a year ago you began to give and to plan, this is to your advantage):

11 Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means.

now you must really finish the doing—not only of the enthusiastic planning but also of the completing—out of what you have

12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

(because when the intention is presented, it is acceptable according to what one may have, not what he does not have).

13 It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.

Now this is not to distress you so as to relieve others,

14 At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality.

but by way of balance—at this juncture your surplus alleviates their lack, so that later their surplus may alleviate your lack—yes, that there be balance;

15 As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”

as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”

16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.

Now thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you in the heart of Titus;

17 For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.

because he not only welcomed my appeal but being very diligent he went to you of his own accord.

18 Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel.

But we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Gospel is throughout all the congregations;

19 More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering —the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

and not only that—he was actually chosen by the congregations as our traveling companion with this gift, that is being administered by us with a view to the glory of the Lord Himself, and to our own goodwill,

20 We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.

avoiding any criticism about how we are handling this abundance;

21 For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.

giving thought to blamelessness, not only before the Lord but also before men.

22 And we are sending along with them our brother whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you.

Further, we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more so, because of our great confidence in you.

23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, to the glory of Christ.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker toward you; as for our brothers, they are envoys of the congregations, a glory of Christ.

24 In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.

Therefore show the proof of your love (and of our boasting about you) to them as representatives of the congregations.