2 Corinthians 8
1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia.
But, britheren, we maken knowun to you the grace of God, that is youun in the chirchis of Macedonye,
2 During a great test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the extremity of their poverty have produced great riches of generosity.
that in myche asaiyng of tribulacioun, the plente of the ioye of hem was, and the hiyeste pouert of hem was plenteuouse `in to the richessis of the symplenesse of hem.
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,
For Y bere witnessyng to hem, aftir miyt and aboue miyt thei weren wilful,
4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privlege of sharing in this ministry to the believers.
with myche monestyng bisechynge vs the grace and the comynyng of mynystring, that is maad to hooli men.
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.
And not as we hopiden, but thei yauen hem silf first to the Lord, aftirward to vs bi the wille of God.
6 So we urged Titus, who had already begun this task, to complete among you this act of grace.
So that we preyeden Tite, that as he bigan, so also he performe in you this grace.
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.
But as ye abounden in alle thingis, in feith, and word, and kunnyng, and al bisynesse, more ouer and in youre charite in to vs, that and in this grace ye abounden.
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.
Y seie not as comaundinge, but bi the bisynesse of othere men appreuynge also the good wit of youre charite.
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.
And ye witen the grace of oure Lord Jhesu Crist, for he was maad nedi for you, whanne he was riche, that ye schulden be maad riche bi his nedynesse.
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.
And Y yyue counsel in this thing; for this is profitable to you, that not oneli han bigunne to do, but also ye bigunnen to haue wille fro the formere yere.
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.
But now parfourme ye in deed, that as the discrecioun of wille is redi, so be it also of parformyng of that that ye han.
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.
For if the wille be redi, it is acceptid aftir that that it hath, not aftir that that it hath not.
13 For this task is not in order that others may be relieved and you may be burdened. Instead, there should be fairness.
And not that it be remyssioun to othere men, and to you tribulacioun;
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.
but of euenesse in the present tyme youre aboundance fulfille the myseese of hem, that also the aboundaunce of hem be a fulfillynge of youre myseise, that euenesse be maad; as it is writun,
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.”
He that gaderide myche, was not encresid, and he that gaderide litil, hadde not lesse.
16 But thanks be to God, who put into Titus' heart the same earnest care that I have for you.
And Y do thankyngis to God, that yaf the same bisynesse for you in the herte of Tite,
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.
for he resseyuede exortacioun; but whanne he was bisier, bi his wille he wente forth to you.
18 We have sent with him the brother who is praised among all of the churches for his work in proclaiming the gospel.
And we senten with hym a brother, whose preisyng is in the gospel bi alle chirchis.
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.
And not oneli, but also he is ordeyned of chirchis the felowe of oure pilgrimage in to this grace, that is mynystrid of vs to the glorie of the Lord, and to oure ordeyned wille;
20 We are avoiding the possibility that anyone should complain about us concerning this generosity that we are carrying out.
eschewynge this thing, that no man blame vs in this plente, that is mynystrid of vs to the glorye of the Lord.
21 We take care to do what is honorable, not only before the Lord, but also before people.
For we purueyen good thingis, not onely bifor God, but also bifor alle men.
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.
For we senten with hem also oure brothir, whom we han preued in many thingis ofte, that he was bisi, but nowe myche bisier, for myche trist in you,
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.
ethir for Tite, that is my felowe and helpere in you, ethir for oure britheren, apostlis of the chirches of the glorie of Crist.
24 So show them your love, and show to the churches the reason for our boasting about you.
Therfor schewe ye in to hem in the face of chirchis, that schewynge that is of youre charite and of oure glorie for you.
