2 Corinthians 8

1 And now we give you news, brothers, about the grace of God which has been given to the churches of Macedonia;

But, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia;

2 How while they were undergoing every sort of trouble, and were in the greatest need, they took all the greater joy in being able to give freely to the needs of others.

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

3 For I give them witness, that as they were able, and even more than they were able, they gave from the impulse of their hearts,

Because I witness, that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they were anxious,

4 Seriously requesting us that they might have a part in this grace of being servants to the needs of the saints:

with much exhortation praying our favor and the fellowship of the ministry which is to the saints:

5 And going even farther than our hope, they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us after the purpose of God.

and not as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us through the will of God:

6 So that we made a request to Titus that, as he had made a start before, so he might make this grace complete in you.

that we should exhort Titus, that as he formerly began it, he may indeed also complete this grace unto you.

7 And that as you are full of every good thing, of faith, of the word, of knowledge, of a ready mind, and of love to us, so you may be full of this grace in the same way.

But as in every thing you abound, in faith, and in word, and knowledge, and in all zeal, and in divine love from you in us, that you may also abound in this philanthropy.

8 I am not giving you an order, but using the ready mind of others as a test of the quality of your love.

I speak not according to commandment, but through the zeal of others also proving the sincerity of your divine love.

9 For you see the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how though he had wealth, he became poor on your account, so that through his need you might have wealth.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, being rich, for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might be made rich.

10 And in this I give my opinion: for it is to your profit, who were the first to make a start a year before, not only to do this, but to make clear that your minds were more than ready to do it.

And herein I give my judgement: for this is profitable to you, who not only began to do, but to be anxious, a year ago:

11 Then make the doing of it complete; so that as you had a ready mind, you may give effect to it as you are able.

but now indeed complete the work; in order that as there was a promptitude of willing, there shall also be a completion out of your ability.

12 For if there is a ready mind, a man will have God's approval in the measure of what he has, and not of what he has not.

For if there is first a willing mind, it is acceptable according to what one may have, and not according to what he has not.

13 And I am not saying this so that others may get off free, while the weight comes on you:

For it is not that there may be relief to others, affliction to you, but that it may be according to equality: at this time your abundance may correspond to their deficiency,

14 But so that things may be equal; that from those things of which you have more than enough at the present time their need may be helped, and that if you are in any need they may be a help to you in the same way, making things equal.

that their abundance may correspond with your deficiency, in order that there may be equality:

15 As it says in the Writings, He who had taken up much had nothing over and he who had little had enough.

as has been written, He that had much did not super-abound; and he that had little did not lack.

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

But thanks be unto God, who gives this same enthusiasm in your behalf in the heart of Titus;

17 For while he gladly gave ear to our request, he was interested enough to go to you from the impulse of his heart.

because he indeed accepted our exhortation; and being the more enthusiastic, came unto you of his own accord.

18 And with him we have sent a brother whose praise in the good news has gone through all the churches;

But we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is through all the churches;

19 And not only so, but he was marked out by the churches to go with us in the grace of this giving which we have undertaken to the glory of the Lord and to make clear that our mind was ready:

not only so, but having been elected by the churches our traveling companion with this philanthropy, administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and your promptitude:

20 And so that no man might be able to say anything against us in the business of this giving which has been put into our hands:

and avoiding this, lest any one may blame us in this benefaction administered by us:

21 For the business has been so ordered by us as to have the approval, not only of the Lord, but of men.

for we provide things honest, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also before the people.

22 And we have sent with them our brother, whose ready spirit has been made clear to us at times and in ways without number, but it is now all the more so because of the certain faith which he has in you.

And we sent our brother along with him to them, whom we have tried, being frequently zealous in many things, but now much more zealous, with great confidence towards you.

23 If any question comes up about Titus, he is my brother-worker, working with me for you; or about the others, they are the representatives of the churches to the glory of Christ.

Whether in behalf of Titus, my companion and fellow-laborer towards you; or our brethren, the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24 Make clear then to them, as representatives of the churches, the quality of your love, and that the things which we have said about you are true.

Moreover manifesting the exhibition of your love, and our boasting to them in your behalf, in the face of the churches.