2 Corinthians 8
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been bestowed in the churches of Macedonia;
Men vi kundgøre eder, Brødre! den Guds Naade, som er given i Makedoniens Menigheder,
2 that under a great trial of distress the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty increased the riches of their liberality;
at under megen Trængsels Prøvelse har deres overstrømmende Glæde og deres dybe Fattigdom strømmet over i deres Gavmildheds Rigdom.
3 for according to their power, I bear witness, and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
Thi efter Evne (det vidner jeg) gave de, ja, over Evne, af egen Drift,
4 begging of us with much entreaty the favor of sharing in the ministration to the saints;
idet de med megen Overtalelse bade os om den Naade at maatte tage Del i Hjælpen til de hellige,
5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God;
og ikke alene som vi havde haabet, men sig selv gav de først og fremmest til Herren og saa til os, ved Guds Villie,
6 so that we urged Titus, that, as he had already made a beginning, so he would also finish among you this bounty also.
saa at vi opfordrede Titus til, ligesom han forhen havde begyndt, saaledes ogsaa at tilendebringe hos eder ogsaa denne Gave.
7 But as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this exercise of liberality also.
Men ligesom I ere rige i alt, i Tro og Tale og Erkendelse og al Iver og i eders Kærlighed til os: Maatte I da være rige ogsaa i denne Gave!
8 I speak not by way of command, but by reason of the earnestness of others, and to prove the genuineness of your love.
Jeg siger det ikke som en Befaling, men for ved andres Iver at prøve ogsaa eders Kærligheds Ægthed.
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.
I kende jo vor Herres Jesu Kristi Naade, at han for eders Skyld blev fattig, da han var rig, for at I ved hans Fattigdom skulde blive rige.
10 And I only give an opinion in this matter. For this is expedient for you, who began before others, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.
Og jeg giver min Mening herom til Kende; thi dette er eder gavnligt, I, som jo i Fjor vare de første til at begynde, ikke alene med Gerningen, men endogsaa med Villien dertil.
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.
Men fuldbringer da nu ogsaa Gerningen, for at, ligesom I vare redebonne til at ville, I ogsaa maa fuldbringe det efter eders Evne.
12 For if there be first the willing mind, it is accepted according to what a man hath, not according to what he hath not.
Thi naar Redebonheden er til Stede, da er den velbehagelig efter, hvad den evner, ikke efter, hvad den ikke evner.
13 For it is not that others may be eased, and you burdened,
Det er nemlig ikke Meningen, at andre skulle have Lettelse og I Trængsel; nej, det skal være ligeligt. Nu for Tiden maa eders Overflod komme hines Trang til Hjælp,
14 but to make an equality; at the present season your abundance meeting their deficiency, that their abundance may at another time meet your deficiency; that there may be equality;
for at ogsaa hines Overflod kan komme eders Trang til Hjælp, for at der kan blive Ligelighed,
15 as it is written: “He that gathered much, had nothing over; and he that gathered little, had no lack.”
som der er skrevet: „Den, som sankede meget, fik ikke for meget, og den, som sankede lidet, fik ikke for lidt.”
16 But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus;
Men Gud ske Tak, som giver den samme Iver for eder i Titus's Hjerte!
17 for he accepted indeed the exhortation; but being very earnest, he went of his own accord to you.
Thi vel har han modtaget min Opfordring; men da han er saa ivrig, saa er det af egen Drift, at han rejser til eder.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is throughout all the churches;
Og sammen med ham sende vi den Broder, hvis Ros i Evangeliet gaar igennem alle Menighederne,
19 and not that only, but who was also appointed by the churches as our fellow-traveler in the matter of this bounty, which is administered by us to the honor of the Lord himself, and of our ready mind;
og ikke det alene, men han er ogsaa udvalgt af Menederne til at rejse med os med denne Gave, som besørges af os, for at fremme selve Herrens Ære og vor Redebonhed,
20 since we are careful of this, that no one should blame us in our management of this abundant liberality;
idet vi undgaa dette, at nogen skulde kunne laste os i Anledning af denne rige Hjælp, som besørges af os;
21 for we take forethought for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
thi vi lægge Vind paa, hvad der er godt ikke alene i Herrens, men ogsaa i Menneskers Øjne.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often in many things proved to be zealous, but now much more zealous through the great confidence which he hath in you.
Men sammen med dem sende vi vor Broder, hvis Iver vi ofte i mange Maader have prøvet, men som nu er langt ivrigere paa Grund af sin store Tillid til eder.
23 As to Titus, he is my partner and fellow-laborer for you; as to our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
Hvad Titus angaar, da er han min Fælle og Medarbejder hos eder, og hvad vore Brødre angaar, da ere de Menighedsudsendinge, Kristi Ære.
24 Display to them, therefore, before the churches, the proof of your love, and of what we have boasted on your behalf.
Saa giver dem da for Menighedernes Aasyn Beviset paa eders Kærlighed og for det, vi have rost eder for.
