2 Corinthians 8

1 We want to remind you, friends, of the love that God has shown to the churches in Macedonia –

And, brothers, we declare to you the grace of God that has been given in the congregations of Macedonia,

2 How, tired though they were by many a trouble, their overflowing happiness, and even their deep poverty, resulted in a flood of generosity.

that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy, even from the depth of their poverty, abounded for the wealth of their generosity,

3 I can bear witness that to the full extent of their power, and even beyond their power, spontaneously,

so that according to their ability, I testify, and beyond their ability, willingly,

4 and with many an appeal to us for permission, they showed their love, and contributed their share towards the fund for their fellow Christians.

with much exhortation, begging of us the favor, even the fellowship of service for the sanctified.

5 And that, not only in the way we had expected; but first they gave themselves to the Lord, and to us also, in accordance with God’s will.

And it was not as we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us through the will of God,

6 And this led us to beg Titus, that since he had started the work for you, he should also see to the completion of this expression of your love.

for us to urge Titus that, as he earlier began this kindness, so he would even finish it for you also.

7 And, remembering how you excel in everything – in faith, in teaching, in knowledge, in unfailing earnestness, and in the affection that we have awakened in you – I ask you to excel also in this expression of your love.

But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, so that ye may also abound in this kindness.

8 I am not laying a command on you, but I am making use of the earnestness shown by others to test the genuineness of your affection.

I speak not from commandment, but because of the zeal of others, also examining the genuineness of your love.

9 For you do not forget the loving kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ – how that for your sakes, although he was rich, he became poor, so that you also might become rich through his poverty.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich he became poor for your sakes, so that by that man's poverty ye might become rich.

10 I am only making suggestions on this matter; for this is the best course for you, since you were a year before others, not only in taking action, but also in showing your readiness to do so.

And in this I give judgment, for this is expedient for you who earlier began, from a year ago, not only the doing but also the intending.

11 And now I want you to complete the work, so that its completion may correspond with your willing readiness – in proportion, of course, to your means.

And now also finish the doing, so that just as was the willingness of the intending, so also to finish from the having.

12 For, where there is willingness, a person’s gift is valued by its comparison with what they have, and not with what they do not have.

For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable to the extent if some man has, not to the extent he does not have.

13 For our object is not to give relief to others and bring distress on you. It is a matter of a fair balance.

For it is not so that ease is for others and stress for you, but out of parity your abundance at the present time is for the need of those men.

14 On this occasion what you can spare will supply what they need, at another time what they can spare may supply your need, and so things will be equal.

So that the abundance of those men may also happen for your need, so that there may become equity,

15 As scripture says – “Those who had much had nothing over, and those who had little did not lack!”

as it is written, he of much did not abound, and he of little did not lack.

16 I thank God for inspiring Titus with the same keen interest in your welfare that I have;

But thanks to God who gives the same eagerness for you in the heart of Titus.

17 for Titus has responded to my appeals and, in his great earnestness, is starting to go to you of his own accord.

Because he indeed accepted the exhortation, but his own will being more zealous, he went forth to you.

18 We are sending with him one of the Lord’s followers whose fame in the service of the good news has spread through all the churches;

And we sent along with him the brother whose praise in the good news is throughout all the congregations.

19 and not only that, but he has been elected by the churches to accompany us on our journey, in connexion with this expression of your love, which we are personally administering to the honour of the Lord, and to show our deep interest.

And not only so, but who was also chosen by the congregations, a traveling companion of us with this gift administered by us, for the glory of the same Lord and our willingness.

20 What we are specially guarding against is that any fault should be found with us in regard to our administration of this charitable fund;

Arranging this lest any man may criticize us in this bounty administered by us,

21 for we are trying to make arrangements which will be right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of people.

providing things right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 We are also sending with them another of our friends, whose earnestness we have many a time proved in many ways, and whom we now find made even more earnest by his great confidence in you.

And we sent along with them our brother whom we often proved being diligent in many things, but is now much more diligent (with much confidence toward you)

23 If I must say anything about Titus, he is my intimate companion, and he shares my work for you; if it is our friends, they are delegates of the churches, an honour to Christ.

whether on behalf of Titus my partner and co-workman for you, or our brothers, apostles of congregations, a glory of Christ.

24 Show them, therefore – so that the churches may see it – the proof of your affection, and the ground for our boasting to them about you.

Therefore show ye the proof of your love and our boast about you, for them in the face of the congregations.