2 Corinthians 8
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia.
Men vi kundgøre eder, Brødre! den Guds Naade, som er given i Makedoniens Menigheder,
2 During a great test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the extremity of their poverty have produced great riches of generosity.
at under megen Trængsels Prøvelse har deres overstrømmende Glæde og deres dybe Fattigdom strømmet over i deres Gavmildheds Rigdom.
3 For I bear witness that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond what they were able, and of their own free will,
Thi efter Evne (det vidner jeg) gave de, ja, over Evne, af egen Drift,
4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privlege of sharing in this ministry to the believers.
idet de med megen Overtalelse bade os om den Naade at maatte tage Del i Hjælpen til de hellige,
5 This did not happen as we had expected. Instead, they first gave themselves to the Lord. Then they gave themselves to us by the will of God.
og ikke alene som vi havde haabet, men sig selv gav de først og fremmest til Herren og saa til os, ved Guds Villie,
6 So we urged Titus, who had already begun this task, to complete among you this act of grace.
saa at vi opfordrede Titus til, ligesom han forhen havde begyndt, saaledes ogsaa at tilendebringe hos eder ogsaa denne Gave.
7 But you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us. So also make sure that you excel in this act of grace.
Men ligesom I ere rige i alt, i Tro og Tale og Erkendelse og al Iver og i eders Kærlighed til os: Maatte I da være rige ogsaa i denne Gave!
8 I say this not as a command. Instead, I say this in order to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it to the eagerness of other people.
Jeg siger det ikke som en Befaling, men for ved andres Iver at prøve ogsaa eders Kærligheds Ægthed.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich.
I kende jo vor Herres Jesu Kristi Naade, at han for eders Skyld blev fattig, da han var rig, for at I ved hans Fattigdom skulde blive rige.
10 In this matter I will give you advice that will help you. One year ago, you not only started to do something, but you desired to do it.
Og jeg giver min Mening herom til Kende; thi dette er eder gavnligt, I, som jo i Fjor vare de første til at begynde, ikke alene med Gerningen, men endogsaa med Villien dertil.
11 Now finish it. Just as there was an eagerness and desire to do it then, may you also bring it to completion, as much as you can.
Men fuldbringer da nu ogsaa Gerningen, for at, ligesom I vare redebonne til at ville, I ogsaa maa fuldbringe det efter eders Evne.
12 For if you are eager to do this deed, it is a good and acceptable thing. It must be based on what a person has, not on what he does not have.
Thi naar Redebonheden er til Stede, da er den velbehagelig efter, hvad den evner, ikke efter, hvad den ikke evner.
13 For this task is not in order that others may be relieved and you may be burdened. Instead, there should be fairness.
Det er nemlig ikke Meningen, at andre skulle have Lettelse og I Trængsel; nej, det skal være ligeligt. Nu for Tiden maa eders Overflod komme hines Trang til Hjælp,
14 Your abundance at the present time will supply what they need. This is also so that their abundance may supply your need, and so that there may be fairness.
for at ogsaa hines Overflod kan komme eders Trang til Hjælp, for at der kan blive Ligelighed,
15 It is as it is written: “The one with much did not have anything left over, and the one who had little did not have any lack.”
som der er skrevet: „Den, som sankede meget, fik ikke for meget, og den, som sankede lidet, fik ikke for lidt.‟
16 But thanks be to God, who put into Titus' heart the same earnest care that I have for you.
Men Gud ske Tak, som giver den samme Iver for eder i Titus's Hjerte!
17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but he was also very earnest about it. He came to you of his own free will.
Thi vel har han modtaget min Opfordring; men da han er saa ivrig, saa er det af egen Drift, at han rejser til eder.
18 We have sent with him the brother who is praised among all of the churches for his work in proclaiming the gospel.
Og sammen med ham sende vi den Broder, hvis Ros i Evangeliet gaar igennem alle Menighederne,
19 Not only this, but he also was selected by the churches to travel with us in our carrying out this act of grace. This is for the honor of the Lord himself and for our eagerness to help.
og ikke det alene, men han er ogsaa udvalgt af Menederne til at rejse med os med denne Gave, som besørges af os, for at fremme selve Herrens Ære og vor Redebonhed,
20 We are avoiding the possibility that anyone should complain about us concerning this generosity that we are carrying out.
idet vi undgaa dette, at nogen skulde kunne laste os i Anledning af denne rige Hjælp, som besørges af os;
21 We take care to do what is honorable, not only before the Lord, but also before people.
thi vi lægge Vind paa, hvad der er godt ikke alene i Herrens, men ogsaa i Menneskers Øjne.
22 We are also sending another brother with them. We have tested him in many ways and found him diligent for many tasks. He is even more eager now because of the great confidence he has in you.
Men sammen med dem sende vi vor Broder, hvis Iver vi ofte i mange Maader have prøvet, men som nu er langt ivrigere paa Grund af sin store Tillid til eder.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are sent by the churches. They are an honor to Christ.
Hvad Titus angaar, da er han min Fælle og Medarbejder hos eder, og hvad vore Brødre angaar, da ere de Menighedsudsendinge, Kristi Ære.
24 So show them your love, and show to the churches the reason for our boasting about you.
Saa giver dem da for Menighedernes Aasyn Beviset paa eders Kærlighed og for det, vi have rost eder for.
