2 Corinthians 8

1 Now we make known unto you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the churches of Macedonia.

We make known to you, brethren, God’s gracious gift, which has been given in the churches of Macedonia;

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.

that under an afflicting trial, their overflowing joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality;

3 For according to their power (I bear them witness), and beyond their power, they were willing.

for I testify that according to their power, and beyond their power, they gave voluntarily,

4 With much entreaty begging of us the grace and communication of the ministry that is done toward the saints.

beseeching us, with much entreaty, that they might give, and take part in the ministering to the saints;

5 And not as we hoped, but they gave their own selves first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God:

and they did this, not only as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to us, through the will of God;

6 Insomuch, that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so also he would finish among you this same grace.

so that we exhorted Titus, that, as he had previously begun, so he would bring to an end this gift among you also.

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.

Now as you excel in every thing, in faith, and in speech, and in knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gift also.

8 I speak not as commanding; but by the carefulness of others, approving also the good disposition of your charity.

I do not speak this as a commandment, but on account of the zeal of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

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.

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

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.

And I give my judgment in this matter; for this is profitable for you, who began not only to do, but to show a willing mind, a year ago.

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.

Now, therefore, perfect also the doing of this; that as there was a readiness of mind to be willing, so also there may be an accomplishment of the doing, out of that which you have.

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.

For if there is a readiness of mind, one is accepted according to what he has, not according to what he has not.

13 For I mean not that others should be eased, and you burthened, but by an equality.

For I do not intend that there shall be relief to others, and affliction to you; but that, according to equality, your abundance, at the present time, may supply their wants;

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,

and that, at a future time, their abundance may supply your wants; that there may be equality,

15 As it is written: He that had much, had nothing over; and he that had little, had no want.

as it is written: He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little did not lack.

16 And thanks be to God, who hath given the same carefulness for you in the heart of Titus.

But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care for you in the heart of Titus:

17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more careful, of his own will he went unto you.

for he accepted my exhortation, and, being more earnest, he went to you of his own accord.

18 We have sent also with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel through all the churches.

And we have sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is in all the churches;

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:

and who, moreover, was chosen by the churches as our fellow-traveler with this gift, which is to be distributed by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and as a declaration of your readiness of mind;

20 Avoiding this, lest any man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us.

being careful for this―that no one shall blame us in this abundance, which is ministered by us;

21 For we forecast what may be good not only before God, but also before men.

for we provide what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

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,

And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more diligent on account of the strong confidence which he has in you.

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.

If it is necessary to speak of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-worker for you; if our brethren are spoken of, they are the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24 Wherefore shew ye to them, in the sight of the churches, the evidence of your charity, and of our boasting on your behalf.

Therefore, give to them, in the presence of the churches, a proof of your love, and of our boasting of you.