2 Corinthians 8

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

And, my brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which was conferred on the churches of the Macedonians;

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 the great trial of their affliction, there was an abounding to their joy, and the depth of their poverty was exuberant in 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 I testify that, according to their ability, and beyond their ability, in the spontaneity of their mind,

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

they besought us, with much entreaty, that they might participate in the beneficence of the ministration to 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 only as we had expected, but they first gave themselves unto the Lord, and 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 that we requested Titus, that as he had begun, so he would perfect in you also the same beneficence.

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.

And as ye are enriched in every thing, in faith, and speech, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in our love towards you, so abound ye in this beneficence also.

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

I do not actually command you, but by the promptitude of your fellow disciples, I would test the sincerity of your love.

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 ye know the goodness of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, who when he was rich, for your sakes became poor, that by his poverty ye might 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 I urgently recommend to you, that which is for your advantage; inasmuch as ye began, a year ago, not only to purpose, but also to perform.

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.

And now complete ye by action, what ye purposed; that as ye had a promptitude in your purposing, so ye may fulfill it in action, according to your ability.

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 a willingness, a person is accepted 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 it is not, that others may have easement, and you pressure;

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 ye may be on equality at the present time; and that your abundance may be a supply to their want; that their abundance likewise may be a supply to your want; 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."

As it is written, He who gathered much, had nothing over; and he that gathered little, was not deficient.

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 into the heart of Titus this solicitude for you.

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

For he received our exhortation; and, because he was very anxious, he cheerfully set out to visit you.

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

And we also sent with him that our brother, whose praise in the gospel is in all the churches;

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.

inasmuch as he likewise had been expressly chosen by the churches, to accompany me with this beneficence which is ministered by us to the glory of God and to our cordiality.

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

And we hereby guarded, that no one should cast censure on us, in respect to this abundance which is ministered 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.

For we are attentive to things commendable, not only before God, 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 also sent with them that brother of ours, who hath often, and in many things, been proved diligent by us; and is now particularly diligent, from the great confidence he hath 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.

And therefore, if Titus be inquired about, he is my associate and assistant among you: or if our other brethren, they are the legates of the churches of the Messiah's glory.

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

Therefore exhibit ye to them, in the presence of all the churches, a demonstration of your love and of our glorying respecting you.