2 Corinthians 8
1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been bestowed in the churches of Macedonia;
ASIMISMO, hermanos, os hacemos saber la gracia de Dios, que ha sido dada á las iglesias de Macedonia:
2 that under a great trial of distress the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty increased the riches of their liberality;
Que en grande prueba de tribulacion la abundancia de su gozo y su profunda pobreza abundaron en riquezas de su bondad.
3 for according to their power, I bear witness, and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
Pues de su grado [han dado] conforme á [sus] fuerzas, yo testifico, y aun sobre [sus] fuerzas;
4 begging of us with much entreaty the favor of sharing in the ministration to the saints;
Pidiéndonos con muchos ruegos, que aceptásemos la gracia y la comunicacion del servicio para los santos.
5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God;
Y no como [lo] esperábamos, mas aun á sí mismos se dieron primeramente al Señor, y á nosotros por la voluntad de Dios.
6 so that we urged Titus, that, as he had already made a beginning, so he would also finish among you this bounty also.
De manera que exhortamos á Tito que como comenzó ántes, así tambien acabe esta gracia entre vosotros tambien.
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.
Por tanto, como en todo abundais, en fé, y en palabra, y [en] ciencia, y en toda solicitud, y [en] vuestro amor para con nosotros, que tambien abundeis en esta gracia.
8 I speak not by way of command, but by reason of the earnestness of others, and to prove the genuineness of your love.
No hablo como quien manda, sino para poner á prueba por la eficacia de otros, la sinceridad tambien de la caridad vuestra.
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.
Porque ya sabeis la gracia de nuestro Señor Jesu-Cristo, que por amor de vosotros se hizo pobre, siendo rico; para que vosotros con su pobreza fueseis enriquecidos.
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.
Y en esto doy [mi] consejo: porque esto os conviene á vosotros, que comenzasteis ántes, no solo á hacerlo, mas aun a querer lo desde el año pasado.
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.
Ahora pues, llevad tambien á cabo el hecho: para que como [estuvisteis] prontos á querer, así tambien [lo esteis] en cumplir conforme á lo que teneis.
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.
Porque si primero hay la voluntad pronto, será acepta por lo que tiene, no por lo que no tiene.
13 For it is not that others may be eased, and you burdened,
Porque no [se hace esto] para que haya para otros desahogo, y para vosotros apretura;
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;
Sino para que en este tiempo, con igualdad, vuestra abundancia supla la falta de ellos, para que tambien la abundancia de ellos supla vuestra falta; porque haya igualdad,
15 as it is written: “He that gathered much, had nothing over; and he that gathered little, had no lack.”
Como está escrito: El que [recogió] mucho, no tuvo más; y el que poco, no tuvo ménos.
16 But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus;
Empero gracias á Dios que dió la misma solicitud por vosotros en el corazon de Tito.
17 for he accepted indeed the exhortation; but being very earnest, he went of his own accord to you.
Pues á la verdad recibió la exhortacion; mas estando tambien muy solícito, de su voluntad partió para vosotros.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is throughout all the churches;
Y enviamos juntamente con él al hermano, cuya alabanza en el Evangelio [es] por todas las iglesias.
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;
Y no solo [esto, ] mas tambien fué ordenado por las iglesias el compañero de nuestra peregrinacion para [llevar] esta gracia, que es administrada de nosotros para gloria del mismo Señor, y [para servir] vuestro pronto ánimo,
20 since we are careful of this, that no one should blame us in our management of this abundant liberality;
Evitando que nadie nos vitupere en esta abundancia que ministramos:
21 for we take forethought for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
Procurando las cosas honestas, no solo delante del Señor, mas aun delante de los hombres.
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.
Enviamos tambien con ellos á nuestro hermano, al cual muchas veces hemos experimentado diligente; mas ahora mucho más con la mucha confianza que [tenemos] en vosotros.
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.
Ora en órden á Tito, mi compañero y coadjutor para con vosotros, ó [acerca de] nuestros hermanos, los mensajeros [son] de las iglesias, [y] la gloria de Cristo.
24 Display to them, therefore, before the churches, the proof of your love, and of what we have boasted on your behalf.
Mostrad pues para con ellos á la faz de las iglesias la prueba de vuestro amor, y de nuestra gloria acerca de vosotros.
