2 Corinthians 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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 speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also 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, that, though he was rich, yet 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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

For this is not that others may be eased and you 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 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.

15 as it is written: “He that gathered much, had nothing over; and he that 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 put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus;

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

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

For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out 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;

We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known 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;

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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