2 Corinthians 8

1 We doe you also to wit, brethren, of the grace of God bestowed vpon the Churches of Macedonia,

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace of God that has been bestowed upon the congregations of Macedonia,

2 Because in great triall of affliction their ioy abounded, and their most extreme pouertie abounded vnto their rich liberalitie.

that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their extreme poverty produced their extravagant, sincere generosity.

3 For to their power (I beare record) yea, and beyonde their power, they were willing,

Because according to their ability, I bear witness, even beyond that ability, of their own accord,

4 And praied vs with great instance that we woulde receiue the grace, and fellowship of the ministring which is toward the Saints.

they begged us with much entreaty to receive the gift, the sharing in the ministry to the saints

5 And this they did, not as we looked for: but gaue their owne selues, first to the Lord, and after vnto vs by the will of God,

—and more than we had hoped, they first gave themselves to the Lord (and due to God's will, to us).

6 That we should exhort Titus, that as hee had begon, so he would also accomplish the same grace among you also.

So we urged Titus that as he had made a beginning so he should also bring to completion in you this grace as well;

7 Therefore, as yee abound in euery thing, in faith and woorde, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your loue towardes vs, euen so see that yee abound in this grace also.

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.

8 This say I not by commandement, but because of the diligence of others: therefore prooue I the naturalnesse of your loue.

I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

9 For ye knowe the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, that hee being rich, for your sakes became poore, that yee through his pouertie might be made rich.

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.

10 And I shewe my minde herein: for this is expedient for you, which haue begun not to doe onely, but also to will, a yeare agoe.

So here is my advice in this (since already a year ago you began to give and to plan, this is to your advantage):

11 Nowe therefore performe to doe it also, that as there was a readinesse to will, euen so yee may performe it of that which yee haue.

now you must really finish the doing—not only of the enthusiastic planning but also of the completing—out of what you have

12 For if there be first a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

(because when the intention is presented, it is acceptable according to what one may have, not what he does not have).

13 Neither is it that other men should be eased and you grieued: But vpon like condition, at this time your abundance supplieth their lacke:

Now this is not to distress you so as to relieve others,

14 That also their aboundance may bee for your lacke, that there may be equalitie:

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;

15 As it is written, Hee that gathered much, had nothing ouer, and hee that gathered litle, had not the lesse.

as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”

16 And thanks be vnto God, which hath put in the heart of Titus the same care for you.

Now thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you in the heart of Titus;

17 Because hee accepted the exhortation, yea, hee was so carefull that of his owne accorde hee went vnto you.

because he not only welcomed my appeal but being very diligent he went to you of his own accord.

18 And wee haue sent also with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel throughout al the Churches.

But we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Gospel is throughout all the congregations;

19 (And not so onely, but is also chosen of the Churches to be a fellowe in our iourney, concerning this grace that is ministred by vs vnto the glorie of the same Lord, and declaration of your prompt minde)

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,

20 Auoiding this, that no man shoulde blame vs in this aboundance that is ministred by vs,

avoiding any criticism about how we are handling this abundance;

21 Prouiding for honest thinges, not onely before the Lord, but also before men.

giving thought to blamelessness, not only before the Lord but also before men.

22 And we haue sent with them our brother, whom we haue oft times prooued to be diligent in many thinges, but nowe much more diligent, for the great confidence, which I haue in you.

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.

23 Whether any doe inquire of Titus, he is my fellowe and helper to you ward: or of our brethren, they are messengers of the Churches, and the glorie of Christ.

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.

24 Wherefore shew toward them, and before the Churches the proofe of your loue, and of the reioycing that we haue of you.

Therefore show the proof of your love (and of our boasting about you) to them as representatives of the congregations.