2 Corinthians 8

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

Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among 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.

During a severe trial of affliction, their abundant joy and their deep poverty abounded in a wealth of generosity on their part.

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

For I testify that according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,

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

urgently begging us for the privilege of contributing to the gift for the saints in Jerusalem.

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 they did not do this in the way we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by 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 we have urged Titus, who previously encouraged you to begin gathering money, to return and help you complete this gracious gift.

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.

But just as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in your love for us—make sure you abound in this gracious gift as well.

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

I am not saying this as a command, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

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

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you could become 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.

So I am giving my advice about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were not only the first who wanted to give, but you were also the first to begin doing so.

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 finish doing it, so that your eager willingness to give may be matched by your completion of the gift, according to what you 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 the eager willingness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

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

I do not mean there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a matter of equality. At the present time your abundance should provide for their need,

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.

so that in turn their abundance may provide for your need, and thus 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."

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

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 has put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care for you that I have.

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

For Titus not only accepted our appeal, but with great enthusiasm he is coming to you of his own accord.

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

With him we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.

19 Not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches 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 that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we administer this gracious gift for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our eager willingness to help.

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

We are taking this precaution so that no one will discredit us with respect to this large sum that we are administering.

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

For we are giving careful thought to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of 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.

We are also sending with them our brother whom we have often tested and found to be earnest in many matters, and now he is even more earnest because of his great confidence in you.

23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.

If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service. If there is any question about our brothers, they are delegates of the churches, the glory of Christ.

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

Therefore show them in front of all the churches the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.