2 Corinthians 8

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been bestowed in the churches of Macedonia;

Now, brothers, I wish to tell you about the grace of God which has been manifest in the churches of Macedonia.

2 that under a great trial of distress the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty increased the riches of their liberality;

For although in heavy trial of affliction, their overbrimming happiness, even in spite of their deep poverty, abounded to the opulence of their unselfishness.

3 for according to their power, I bear witness, and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

For I can testify that according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, of their own free will, too, they have given help.

4 begging of us with much entreaty the favor of sharing in the ministration to the saints;

With earnest entreaty they craved of me the privilege of a share in ministering to the saints in Jerusalem.

5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God;

And this not as I had expected, but in accordance with the will of God, they first gave themselves to God and to me.

6 so that we urged Titus, that, as he had already made a beginning, so he would also finish among you this bounty also.

With the result that I have been begging Titus that, as he had been the one to begin the work with you, so he should complete among you this grace also.

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.

Now then, as you excel in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and all zeal and in your love to me, see to it that you excel in this grace also.

8 I speak not by way of command, but by reason of the earnestness of others, and to prove the genuineness of your love.

I do not say this by way of command, but by the zeal of others I am trying to prove the reality of your love.

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

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.

And I will give you my opinion in this matter; for this offering is fitting in your case, considering that you made a beginning before others, not only in the willingness to do something but also in actually doing something 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.

So now complete the doing of it also, in order that just as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the accomplishment according to your means.

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.

For if there be first willing mind, the gift is accepted according to what a man has, and not according to what he has not.

13 For it is not that others may be eased, and you burdened,

Nor are other people to be relieved, and you to be distressed;

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;

but burdens are to be equalized. Now your abundance at this present time present time is a supply for their want, in supply for your want; and so burdens be equalized,

15 as it is written: “He that gathered much, had nothing over; and he that gathered little, had no lack.”

even as it is written, He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little did not lack.

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

But thanks be to God who has inspired in the heart of Titus the same zeal on your behalf that I have.

17 for he accepted indeed the exhortation; but being very earnest, he went of his own accord to you.

For he not only consented to my request, but being thoroughly in earnest, comes to you of his own accord.

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

And I am sending with him that brother whose fame in the service of the gospel is spread through all the churches.

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;

More than that, he is the one chosen by the churches to accompany me on my journey, in administering this gift of yours for the Lord’s glory. And this has my full consent,

20 since we are careful of this, that no one should blame us in our management of this abundant liberality;

because I am on my guard in this, that no one should blame me, in respect to this bounty which I am administering.

21 for we take forethought for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

For I aim at being above reproach, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

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.

With them I am sending our brother of whose zeal I have often had proof in many ways, and who is now zealous because of his great confidence in you.

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.

As for Titus, remember that he is a partner of mine, and is also my associate in labors for you. As for the other brothers, remember that they are delegates from the churches, men in whom Christ is glorified.

24 Display to them, therefore, before the churches, the proof of your love, and of what we have boasted on your behalf.

So show to the churches an evidence of your love, and a justification to these brothers of my boasting about you.