2 Corinthians 8
1 Now we make known unto you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the churches of Macedonia.
Priopćujemo vam, braćo, milost Božju koja je dana crkvama makedonskim:
2 That in much experience of tribulation, they have had abundance of joy; and their very deep poverty hath abounded unto the riches of their simplicity.
unatoč mnogim kušnjama i nevoljama izobilna njihova radost i skrajnje siromaštvo preli se u bogatstvo darežljivosti.
3 For according to their power (I bear them witness), and beyond their power, they were willing.
Svjedočim uistinu: oni su nas dragovoljno - po svojim mogućnostima i preko mogućnosti -
4 With much entreaty begging of us the grace and communication of the ministry that is done toward the saints.
veoma usrdno molili za milost zajedništva u ovom posluživanju svetih.
5 And not as we hoped, but they gave their own selves first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God:
I to ne samo kako se nadasmo, nego same sebe predadoše najprvo Gospodinu, a onda nama, po volji Božjoj.
6 Insomuch, that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so also he would finish among you this same grace.
Zato zamolismo Tita da kao što je započeo, tako i dovrši među vama i to djelo darežljivosti.
7 That as in all things you abound in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all carefulness; moreover also in your charity towards us, so in this grace also you may abound.
Stoga kao što se u svemu odlikujete - u vjeri, i riječi, i spoznanju, i svakoj gorljivosti, i u ljubavi svojoj prema nama - odlikujte se i u ovoj darežljivosti.
8 I speak not as commanding; but by the carefulness of others, approving also the good disposition of your charity.
Ne zapovijedam, nego gorljivošću drugih prokušavam istinitost vaše ljubavi.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he became poor, for your sakes; that through his poverty you might be rich.
Ta poznate darežljivost Gospodina našega Isusa Krista! Premda bogat, radi vas posta siromašan, da se vi njegovim siromaštvom obogatite.
10 And herein I give my advice; for this is profitable for you, who have begun not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.
Time dajem samo savjet: to doista dolikuje vama koji već prošle godine prvi to započeste, ne samo činom nego i odlukom.
11 Now therefore perform ye it also in deed; that as your mind is forward to be willing, so it may be also to perform, out of that which you have.
Sada dovršite to djelo da kao što spremno odlučiste, tako prema mogućnostima i dovršite.
12 For if the will be forward, it is accepted according to that which a man hath, not according to that which he hath not.
Jer ima li spremnosti, mila je po onom što ima, a ne po onom čega nema.
13 For I mean not that others should be eased, and you burthened, but by an equality.
Ne dakako: drugima olakšica, vama oskudica, nego - jednakost!
14 In this present time let your abundance supply their want, that their abundance also may supply your want, that there may be an equality,
U sadašnjem trenutku vaš suvišak za njihovu oskudicu da jednom njihov suvišak bude za vašu oskudicu - te bude jednakost,
15 As it is written: He that had much, had nothing over; and he that had little, had no want.
kao što je pisano: Nije ništa preteklo onome koji bijaše nakupio mnogo, a niti je nedostajalo onome koji bijaše nakupio manje.
16 And thanks be to God, who hath given the same carefulness for you in the heart of Titus.
A hvala Bogu koji je stavio jednaku gorljivost za vas u srce Titovo.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more careful, of his own will he went unto you.
On je prihvatio i molbu, ali budući da je veoma revan, otiđe k vama i dragovoljno.
18 We have sent also with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel through all the churches.
S njime pak šaljemo brata kojega s evanđelja slave sve crkve.
19 And not that only, but he was also ordained by the churches companion of our travels, for this grace, which is administered by us, to the glory of the Lord, and our determined will:
Štoviše, crkve ga izabraše za našeg suputnika u ovom djelu darežljivosti kojemu služimo - na slavu samoga Gospodina i na našu želju
20 Avoiding this, lest any man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us.
kako bismo izbjegli da nas tko ne prekori zbog ovog obilja kojim raspolažemo.
21 For we forecast what may be good not only before God, but also before men.
Doista, revno nastojimo oko dobra ne samo pred Gospodinom nego i pred ljudima.
22 And we have sent with them our brother also, whom we have often proved diligent in many things; but now much more diligent, with much confidence in you,
Šaljemo s njima i našega brata koji je, kako smo u mnogome često iskusili, gorljiv, a sada je još mnogo gorljiviji zbog velikoga pouzdanja u vas.
23 Either for Titus, who is my companion and fellow labourer towards you, or our brethren, the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.
A Tito? Moj je drug i suradnik za vas. A braća naša? Poslanici su crkava, slava Kristova.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, in the sight of the churches, the evidence of your charity, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Pružite im dakle pred crkvama dokaz svoje ljubavi i toga da se s pravom vama ponosimo.
