2 Corinthians 8

1 Now we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia.

Now we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God conferred on the churches of Macedonia:

2 During a severe trial of affliction, their abundant joy and their deep poverty abounded in a wealth of generosity on their part.

how in a great trial of affliction, their abundant chearfulness and their deep poverty, hath munificently shewn the riches of their bounty.

3 For I testify that according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,

For to their power, I bear them witness, yea and beyond their power, they contributed of their own accord:

4 urgently begging us for the privilege of contributing to the gift for the saints in Jerusalem.

intreating us with much importunity, that we would convey the gift, and so take upon us a part of the ministration to the saints.

5 And they did not do this in the way we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by the will of God.

And this they did not merely as we hoped, but first gave themselves unto the Lord, and to us by the will of God.

6 So we have urged Titus, who previously encouraged you to begin gathering money, to return and help you complete this gracious gift.

Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had already begun, so he would also complete this grace among you.

7 But just as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in your love for us—make sure you abound in this gracious gift as well.

And as ye abound in every other grace, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.

8 I am not saying this as a command, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

I speak not by way of command, but to prove the sincerity of your love also, by means of the forwardness of others.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you could become rich.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye by his poverty might be rich.

10 So I am giving my advice about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were not only the first who wanted to give, but you were also the first to begin doing so.

And herein I give my opinion: for this is to your advantage, who not only began to act, but also to be forward to it above a year ago.

11 Now finish doing it, so that your eager willingness to give may be matched by your completion of the gift, according to what you have.

Now therefore perfect also the doing it; that as there was a readiness of will, so there may be also a performance according to your ability.

12 For if the eager willingness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

For if there be first a willing mind, any me is accepted according to what he hath, not according to what he hath not.

13 I do not mean there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a matter of equality. At the present time your abundance should provide for their need,

For I do not mean that others should have relief, and you be burdened:

14 so that in turn their abundance may provide for your need, and thus there may be equality.

but by an equality, that your abundance may at this time be a supply to their want; and their abundance may be the like to your want, if need be: that there may be an equality:

15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

as it is written, "He that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack."

16 But thanks be to God, who has put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care for you that I have.

But thanks be to God, who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus:

17 For Titus not only accepted our appeal, but with great enthusiasm he is coming to you of his own accord.

for he not only complied with the exhortation, but being more forward he went to you of his own accord.

18 With him we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.

And we have sent along with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches:

19 And not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we administer this gracious gift for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our eager willingness to help.

(and not only so, but he was also chosen by the churches to accompany us with this grace, which is administered by us for the glory of the same Lord, and to shew your readiness of mind: )

20 We are taking this precaution so that no one will discredit us with respect to this large sum that we are administering.

hereby taking care that no one might blame us in the disposal of this large sum which is administered by us:

21 For we are giving careful thought to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.

looking to things that are right not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 We are also sending with them our brother whom we have often tested and found to be earnest in many matters, and now he is even more earnest because of his great confidence in you.

And we have sent with them another brother of ours, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, and now I doubt not much more on account of his great confidence in you.

23 If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker in your service. If there is any question about our brothers, they are delegates of the churches, the glory of Christ.

If then there be any inquiry about Titus, he is my collegue and fellow-laborer among you: and if our brethren be inquired after, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24 Therefore show them in front of all the churches the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.

Therefore shew to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and the justness of our boasting concerning you.