2 Corinthians 8
1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace of God that has been bestowed upon the congregations of Macedonia,
Notam autem facimus vobis, fratres, gratiam Dei, quæ data est in ecclesiis Macedoniæ:
2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their extreme poverty produced their extravagant, sincere generosity.
quod in multo experimento tribulationis abundantia gaudii ipsorum fuit, et altissima paupertas eorum, abundavit in divitias simplicitatis eorum:
3 Because according to their ability, I bear witness, even beyond that ability, of their own accord,
quia secundum virtutem testimonium illis reddo, et supra virtutem voluntarii fuerunt,
4 they begged us with much entreaty to receive the gift, the sharing in the ministry to the saints
cum multa exhortatione obsecrantes nos gratiam, et communicationem ministerii, quod fit in sanctos.
5 —and more than we had hoped, they first gave themselves to the Lord (and due to God's will, to us).
Et non sicut speravimus, sed semetipsos dederunt primum Domino, deinde nobis per voluntatem Dei,
6 So we urged Titus that as he had made a beginning so he should also bring to completion in you this grace as well;
ita ut rogaremus Titum, ut quemadmodum cœpit, ita et perficiat in vobis etiam gratiam istam.
7 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.
Sed sicut in omnibus abundatis fide, et sermone, et scientia, et omni sollicitudine, insuper et caritate vestra in nos, ut et in hac gratia abundetis.
8 I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
Non quasi imperans dico: sed per aliorum sollicitudinem, etiam vestræ caritatis ingenium bonum comprobans.
9 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.
Scitis enim gratiam Domini nostri Jesu Christi, quoniam propter vos egenus factus est, cum esset dives, ut illius inopia vos divites essetis.
10 So here is my advice in this (since already a year ago you began to give and to plan, this is to your advantage):
Et consilium in hoc do: hoc enim vobis utile est, qui non solum facere, sed et velle cœpistis ab anno priore:
11 now you must really finish the doing—not only of the enthusiastic planning but also of the completing—out of what you have
nunc vero et facto perficite: ut quemadmodum promptus est animus voluntatis, ita sit et perficiendi ex eo quod habetis.
12 (because when the intention is presented, it is acceptable according to what one may have, not what he does not have).
Si enim voluntas prompta est, secundum id quod habet, accepta est, non secundum id quod non habet.
13 Now this is not to distress you so as to relieve others,
Non enim ut aliis sit remissio, vobis autem tribulatio, sed ex æqualitate.
14 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;
In præsenti tempore vestra abundantia illorum inopiam suppleat: ut et illorum abundantia vestræ inopiæ sit supplementum, ut fiat æqualitas, sicut scriptum est:
15 as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”
Qui multum, non abundavit: et qui modicum, non minoravit.
16 Now thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you in the heart of Titus;
Gratias autem Deo, qui dedit eamdem sollicitudinem pro vobis in corde Titi,
17 because he not only welcomed my appeal but being very diligent he went to you of his own accord.
quoniam exhortationem quidem suscepit: sed cum sollicitior esset, sua voluntate profectus est ad vos.
18 But we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Gospel is throughout all the congregations;
Misimus etiam cum illo fratrem, cujus laus est in Evangelio per omnes ecclesias:
19 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,
non solum autem, sed et ordinatus est ab ecclesiis comes peregrinationis nostræ in hanc gratiam, quæ ministratur a nobis ad Domini gloriam, et destinatam voluntatem nostram:
20 avoiding any criticism about how we are handling this abundance;
devitantes hoc, ne quis nos vituperet in hac plenitudine, quæ ministratur a nobis.
21 giving thought to blamelessness, not only before the Lord but also before men.
Providemus enim bona non solum coram Deo, sed etiam coram hominibus.
22 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.
Misimus autem cum illis et fratrem nostrum, quem probavimus in multis sæpe sollicitum esse: nunc autem multo sollicitiorem, confidentia multa in vos,
23 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.
sive pro Tito, qui est socius meus, et in vos adjutor, sive fratres nostri, Apostoli ecclesiarum, gloria Christi.
24 Therefore show the proof of your love (and of our boasting about you) to them as representatives of the congregations.
Ostensionem ergo, quæ est caritatis vestræ, et nostræ gloriæ pro vobis, in illos ostendite in faciem ecclesiarum.
