2 Corinthians 8
1 Brothers and sisters, we want to let you know about the grace of God shown to the Macedonian churches.
Men vi kundgøre eder, Brødre! den Guds Nåde, som er given i Makedoniens Menigheder,
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.
at under megen Trængsels Prøvelse har deres overstrømmende Glæde og deres dybe Fattigdom strømmet over i deres Gavmildheds Rigdom.
3 I can confirm that they gave what they could, in fact even more than that! By their own choice
Thi efter Evne (det vidner jeg) gave de, ja, over Evne af egen Drift,
4 they kept on pleading with us to have a part in this privilege of sharing in this ministry to God's people.
idet de med megen Overtalelse bade os om den Nåde at måtte tage Del i Hjælpen til de hellige,
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.
og ikke alene som vi havde håbet, men sig selv gav de først og fremmest til Herren og så til os, ved Guds Villie,
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.
så at vi opfordrede Titus til, ligesom han forhen havde begyndt, således også til at tilendebringe hos eder også denne Gave.
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.
Men ligesom I ere rige i alt, i Tro og Tale og Erkendelse og al Iver og i eders Kærlighed til os: måtte I da være rige også i denne Gave!
8 I'm not ordering you to do this, but to prove how sincere your love is in comparison with the dedication of others.
Jeg siger det ikke som en Befaling, men for ved andres Iver at prøve også eders Kærligheds Ægthed.
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.
I kende jo vor Herres Jesu Kristi Nåde, at han for eders Skyld blev fattig, da han var rig, for at I ved hans Fattigdom skulde blive rige.
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.
Og jeg giver min Mening herom til Kende; thi dette er eder gavnligt, I, som jo i Fjor vare de første til at begynde, ikke alene med Gerningen, men endogså med Villien dertil.
11 Now finish what you planned to do. Be as keen to finish as you were to plan, and give as you are able.
Men fuldbringer da nu også Gerningen, for at, ligesom I vare redebonne til at ville, I også må fuldbringe det efter eders Evne.
12 If the willingness is there, it's fine to give what you have, not what you don't have!
Thi når Redebonheden er til Stede, da er den velbehagelig efter, hvad den evner, ikke efter, hvad den ikke evner.
13 This is not to make things easier for others and harder for you, but simply to be fair.
Det er nemlig ikke Meningen, at andre skulle have Lettelse og I Trængsel; nej, det skal være ligeligt. Nu for Tiden må eders Overflod komme hines Trang til Hjælp,
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.
for at også hines Overflod kan komme eders Trang til Hjælp, for at der kan blive Ligelighed,
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.”
som der er skrevet: "Den, som sankede meget, fik ikke for meget, og den, som sankede lidet, fik ikke for lidt."
16 Thanks be to God that he gave to Titus the same devotion for you that I have.
Men Gud ske Tak, som giver den samme Iver for eder i Titus's Hjerte!
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.
Thi vel har han modtaget min Opfordring; men da han er så ivrig, så er det af egen Drift, at han rejser til eder.
18 We're also sending with him a brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the good news.
Og sammen med ham sende vi den Broder, hvis Ros i Evangeliet går igennem alle Menighederne,
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.
og ikke det alene, men han er også udvalgt af Menighederne til at rejse med os med denne Gave, som besørges af os, for at fremme selve Herrens Ære og vor Redebonhed,
20 We want to guard against anyone criticizing us about how we use this gift.
idet vi undgå dette, at nogen skulde kunne laste os i Anledning af denne rige Hjælp, som besørges af os;
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.
thi vi lægge Vind på, hvad der er godt ikke alene i Herrens, men også i Menneskers Øjne.
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.
Men sammen med dem sende vi vor Broder, hvis Iver vi ofte i mange Måder have prøvet, men som nu er langt ivrigere på Grund af sin støre Tillid til eder.
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.
Hvad Titus angår, da er han min Fælle og Medarbejder hos eder, og hvad vore Brødre angår, da ere de Menighedsudsendinge, Kristi Ære.
24 So please welcome them before all the churches and show them your love, proving how rightly proud we are of you.
Så giver dem da for Menighedernes Åsyn Beviset på eders Kærlighed og for det, vi have rost eder for.
