2 Corinthians 8

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed upon the Assemblies of Macedonia;

Moreover we make known unto you, brethren, the favour of God which hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia, —

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.

That, in a great testing of tribulation, the superabounding of their joy and their deep destitution, superabounded unto the riches of their liberality;

3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

That, according to power, I bear witness, and beyond power, of their own accord, [they acted], —

4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

With much exhortation, entreating of us the favour and the fellowship of the ministry which was for the saints; —

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.

And, not merely as we hoped, but, themselves, gave they, first, unto the Lord and unto us through God’s will,

6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

To the end we should exhort Titus, in order that, according as he before made a beginning, so, he should also complete unto you this favour also.

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.

But, just as, in everything, ye superabound, —in faith, and discourse, and knowledge, and all earnestness, and in the love among you which proceedeth from us, in order that, in this favour also, ye would superabound.

8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

Not by way of injunction, do I speak, but through, others’, earnestness, and, the genuineness of your own love, putting to the test.

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.

For ye are taking knowledge of the favour of our Lord Jesus [Christ], —how that, for your sakes, he became destitute—although he was, rich, in order that, ye, by his destitution, might be enriched.

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.

And, a judgment, herein, do I give, —for, this, unto you, is profitable, —who, indeed, not only of the doing, but of the desiring, made for yourselves a beginning a year ago; —

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.

Howbeit, now, the doing also, complete ye, in order that, even according to the forwardness of the desiring, so, may be the completing—out of what ye have.

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.

For, if the forwardness is set forth, according to what one may have, he is well approved, not according to what one hath not.

13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

For, not that unto others should be relief, and unto you distress [do I speak], but, by equality, in the present season, your surplus for their deficiency, —

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:

In order that their surplus may come to be for your deficiency: that there may come about an equality: —

15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

Even as it is written—He that [gathered] the much, had not more than enough, and, he that [gathered] the little, had not less,

16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

Thanks, however, unto God!—who is putting the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of Titus,

17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

In that, though, indeed, the exhortation, he welcomed; yet already being, greatly in earnest, of his own accord, hath he gone forth unto you.

18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the Assemblies;

Howbeit, we also set forward, with him, the brother, whose praise in the Glad Tidings, [hath gone] through all the assemblies: —

19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the Assemblies 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:

Not only so, however, but he hath also been appointed by the assemblies, as a fellow-traveler with us in this favour, which is being ministered by us with a view to the Lord’s glory and our earnest desire: —

20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

Arranging this—lest anyone, upon us, should cast blame, in this munificence which is being ministered by us;

21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

For we provide things honourable, not only before [the] Lord, but also before men.

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.

Moreover we have set forward, with them, our brother whom we have proved, in many things, ofttimes, earnest, —but, now, much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence [which he hath] towards you.

23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the Assemblies, and the glory of Christ.

Whether as regardeth Titus, he is a partner of mine, and, towards you, a fellow-worker. or our brethren, apostles of assemblies, and Christ’s glory.

24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the Assemblies, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

The proof of your love, therefore, and of our boasting in your behalf, shew ye, unto them, in the face of the assemblies.