2 Corinthians 8

1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the congregations of Macedonia;

NOW we inform you, brethren, of the grace of God which hath been bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.

that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, hath more abounded to the riches of their liberality.

3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

For unto their power, I bear them witness, and above their power, they were voluntarily ready to give:

4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

with much entreaty praying us that we would receive the gift, and undertake the communication of the contribution for the saints.

5 This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

And not merely as we hoped, but gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us according to the will of God.

6 So we urged Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.

So that we exhorted Titus, that as he had been active before, so also he would perfect in you this grace also.

7 But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love from us that is in you, see that you also abound in this grace.

So as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and elocution, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

I speak not by commandment, but because of the forwardness of others, and to prove the genuineness of your love.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Yeshua Meshikha, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor though he was rich, that ye by his poverty should be made rich.

10 I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

And in this I give my opinion: for this is expedient for you, who have before begun not only to do, but also to be willing a year ago.

11 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

Now then accomplish also the doing it, that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be also to perform out of that which ye have.

12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.

For if there is first a ready mind, a man is acceptable according to what he hath, and not according to what he hath not.

13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

For I mean not that there should be ease for others and a burden on you;

14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

but that according to equality, your abundance on the present occasion should afford a supply for their deficiency, that their abundance also may supply your deficiency, that there may be equality.

15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

According as it is written, “He that gathered much had no more than others, and he who gathered little, had no less.”

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

But thanks be to God, who put the same solicitude for you into the heart of Titus.

17 For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.

For he received in deed the exhortation, but being more diligent, of his own ready mind he went unto you.

18 We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known through all the congregations.

We have sent with him also a brother, whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches;

19 Not only so, but who was also appointed by the congregations to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.

and not only so, but who was chosen by the churches as my fellow-traveller with this charity, ministered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and to shew your ready mind.

20 We are avoiding this, that no one should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.

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

21 For we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.

providing what is fair, not only before the Lord, but also before men.

22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.

And we have sent with him our brother, whom we have often experienced in many things to be a man of diligence, but now much more diligent, through the great confidence which I have in you.

23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are emissaries of the congregations, the glory of Meshikha.

If any inquire concerning Titus, he is my companion and fellow-labourer to you; or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them in front of the congregations, and of our boasting about you.

Therefore shew unto them, and in the presence of the churches, a proof of your love, and of our just boasting in you.