2 Corinthians 8
1 Brothers and sisters, we want to let you know about the grace of God shown to the Macedonian churches.
兄弟姐妹们，现在我想让你们知道上帝赐予马其顿教会的恩典，
2 Even though they have suffered terrible trouble, they are overflowing with happiness; and even though they are very poor, they are also overflowing in their generosity.
尽管他们遭受了可怕的痛苦，他们心中仍然满溢着欢喜。尽管他们如此贫困，内心仍然充满了慷慨。
3 I can confirm that they gave what they could, in fact even more than that! By their own choice
我可以作证，他们已力所能及地给予，甚至超出了他们的能力！
4 they kept on pleading with us to have a part in this privilege of sharing in this ministry to God's people.
他们再三恳求我们，能够有此殊荣承担上帝之子的侍奉责任，这是他们自己的选择。
5 They didn't just do what we hoped they would do, but they gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us, as God wanted them to do.
他们不仅达成了我们对他们的希望，还按照上帝的旨意将自己献给主，然后献给我们。
6 So we have encouraged Titus—since it was he who started this work with you—to return and complete this gracious ministry of yours.
由于提多率先开始与你们一起工作，所以我们鼓励他回到你们那里，完成你们这光荣的侍奉职责。
7 Since you have an abundance of everything—your trust in God, your eloquence, your spiritual knowledge, your complete dedication, and in your love for us—make sure that your abundance also extends to this gracious ministry of giving.
你们的一切都很丰饶，包括对上帝的信、口才、灵性知识、彻底的奉献精神和对我们的爱。那么，在履行这光荣的侍奉职责时，也要展示你们的丰饶。
8 I'm not ordering you to do this, but to prove how sincere your love is in comparison with the dedication of others.
我并不是在命令你们这样做，而是通过与其他人进行比较，证明你们的爱有多么诚挚。
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though he was rich, he became poor for you, so that through his poverty you could become rich.
你们知道主耶稣基督的恩典。尽管他非常富足，却为你们选择贫穷，然后通过他的贫穷，让你们变得富足。
10 This is my advice: it would be good if you finished what you started. Last year you were not only the first to give but the first to want to do so.
我向你们提供一个建议：完成你们已经开始的工作，将对你们有益。在去年，你们不仅率先慷慨给予，也是率先产生这种想法。
11 Now finish what you planned to do. Be as keen to finish as you were to plan, and give as you are able.
现在就去完成你们计划做的事情，像你们计划的那样热情地完成，在力所能及的范围内给予。
12 If the willingness is there, it's fine to give what you have, not what you don't have!
只要有意愿，只需要力所能及地给予即可，而不是给出自己没有的东西。
13 This is not to make things easier for others and harder for you, but simply to be fair.
这样做不是为了让其他人更轻松，让你们更受累，而是要大家都均等。
14 At the moment you have more than enough and can meet their needs, and in turn when they have more than enough they can meet your needs. In that way everyone is treated fairly.
现在你们很富裕，完全可以满足他们的需要。反过来，当他们变得富裕，就可以满足你们的需要，这样就可以公平对待所有人。
15 As Scripture says, “The one who had much didn't have any excess, and the one who didn't have much didn't have too little.”
正如经文所记：“拥有太多之人没有剩余，拥有太少之人并不缺乏。”
16 Thanks be to God that he gave to Titus the same devotion for you that I have.
感谢上帝，他给了提多与我一样的对你的奉献。
17 Though he agreed to do what we told him, he's coming to see you because he really wants to, and had already decided to do so.
尽管提多愿意按照我们说的做，他去见你们却是他自己的想法，他已经决定这样做。
18 We're also sending with him a brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the good news.
我们还派了一位兄弟和他同去，此人在传播福音方面的工作，获得了众教会的称赞。
19 He was also appointed by the churches to go with us as we deliver this gracious offering we're carrying. We do this to honor the Lord and to show our eagerness to help others.
不但如此，众教会更指派他作我们的旅伴，将我们所拥有的慷慨馈赠出去。这样做是为了主的荣耀，也是为了展示我们渴望帮助其他人的热切心愿。
20 We want to guard against anyone criticizing us about how we use this gift.
有人批评我们使用这赠礼的方式，对此我想进行辩护。
21 We're concerned to do things the right way, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of everyone.
我们关注的是以正义方式正确行事，不仅在主的面前，还是要在所有人的面前。
22 We're also sending with them another brother who has proved to be reliable on many occasions, and who is eager to help. He is now even more eager to help because of the great confidence he has in you.
我们还派了另一位兄弟与他们同去，他经受住了我们的多次考验，值得信赖，也非常希望提供帮助。现在他对你们更有信心，因此也更热切地希望提供帮助。
23 If anyone asks about Titus, he is my companion. He works with me on your behalf. The other brothers are representatives from the churches and an honor to Christ.
如果有人说起提多，我会说他是我的同伴。他为了你们而与我合作。其他的两位兄弟则是教会的代表，是基督的荣耀。
24 So please welcome them before all the churches and show them your love, proving how rightly proud we are of you.
所以，请在众教会面前欢迎他们，向他们证明你们的爱，证明你们的确值得我们骄傲。
