2 Corinthians 8
1 MOREOVER, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
Priopćujemo vam, braćo, milost Božju koja je dana crkvama makedonskim:
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
unatoč mnogim kušnjama i nevoljama izobilna njihova radost i skrajnje siromaštvo preli se u bogatstvo darežljivosti.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
Svjedočim uistinu: oni su nas dragovoljno - po svojim mogućnostima i preko mogućnosti -
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
veoma usrdno molili za milost zajedništva u ovom posluživanju svetih.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
I to ne samo kako se nadasmo, nego same sebe predadoše najprvo Gospodinu, a onda nama, po volji Božjoj.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
Zato zamolismo Tita da kao što je započeo, tako i dovrši među vama i to djelo darežljivosti.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
Stoga kao što se u svemu odlikujete - u vjeri, i riječi, i spoznanju, i svakoj gorljivosti, i u ljubavi svojoj prema nama - odlikujte se i u ovoj darežljivosti.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
Ne zapovijedam, nego gorljivošću drugih prokušavam istinitost vaše ljubavi.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Ta poznate darežljivost Gospodina našega Isusa Krista! Premda bogat, radi vas posta siromašan, da se vi njegovim siromaštvom obogatite.
10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
Time dajem samo savjet: to doista dolikuje vama koji već prošle godine prvi to započeste, ne samo činom nego i odlukom.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
Sada dovršite to djelo da kao što spremno odlučiste, tako prema mogućnostima i dovršite.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
Jer ima li spremnosti, mila je po onom što ima, a ne po onom čega nema.
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
Ne dakako: drugima olakšica, vama oskudica, nego - jednakost!
14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:
U sadašnjem trenutku vaš suvišak za njihovu oskudicu da jednom njihov suvišak bude za vašu oskudicu - te bude jednakost,
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
kao što je pisano: Nije ništa preteklo onome koji bijaše nakupio mnogo, a niti je nedostajalo onome koji bijaše nakupio manje.
16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
A hvala Bogu koji je stavio jednaku gorljivost za vas u srce Titovo.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
On je prihvatio i molbu, ali budući da je veoma revan, otiđe k vama i dragovoljno.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
S njime pak šaljemo brata kojega s evanđelja slave sve crkve.
19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:
Štoviše, crkve ga izabraše za našeg suputnika u ovom djelu darežljivosti kojemu služimo - na slavu samoga Gospodina i na našu želju
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
kako bismo izbjegli da nas tko ne prekori zbog ovog obilja kojim raspolažemo.
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
Doista, revno nastojimo oko dobra ne samo pred Gospodinom nego i pred ljudima.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
Šaljemo s njima i našega brata koji je, kako smo u mnogome često iskusili, gorljiv, a sada je još mnogo gorljiviji zbog velikoga pouzdanja u vas.
23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
A Tito? Moj je drug i suradnik za vas. A braća naša? Poslanici su crkava, slava Kristova.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Pružite im dakle pred crkvama dokaz svoje ljubavi i toga da se s pravom vama ponosimo.
