2 Corinthians 8

1 But we desire to let you know, brethren, of the grace of God which has been bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia;

Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the congregations of Macedonia;

2 how, while passing through great trouble, their boundless joy even amid their deep poverty has overflowed to increase their generous liberality.

how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.

3 For I can testify that to the utmost of their power, and even beyond their power, they have of their own free will given help.

For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

4 With earnest entreaty they begged from us the favour of being allowed to share in the service now being rendered to God's people.

begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the kadoshim.

5 They not only did this, as we had expected, but first of all in obedience to God's will they gave their own selves to the Lord and to us.

This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

6 This led us to urge Titus that, as he had previously been the one who commenced the work, so he should now go and complete among you this act of beneficence also.

So we urged Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.

7 Yes, just as you are already very rich in faith, readiness of speech, knowledge, unwearied zeal, and in the love that is in you, implanted by us, see to it that this grace of liberal giving also flourishes in you.

But as you abound in everything, in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love from us that is in you, see that you also abound in this grace.

8 I am not saying this by way of command, but to test by the standard of other men's earnestness the genuineness of your love also.

I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.

9 For you know the condescending goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ--how for your sakes He became poor, though He was rich, in order that you through His poverty might grow rich.

For you know the grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

10 But in this matter I give you an opinion; for my doing this helps forward your own intentions, seeing that not only have you begun operations, but a year ago you already had the desire to do so.

I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

11 And now complete the doing also, in order that, just as there was then the eagerness in desiring, there may now be the accomplishment in proportion to your means.

But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

12 For, assuming the earnest willingness, the gift is acceptable according to whatever a man has, and not according to what he has not.

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.

13 I do not urge you to give in order that others may have relief while you are unduly pressed,

For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

14 but that, by equalization of burdens, your superfluity having in the present emergency supplied their deficiency, their superfluity may in turn be a supply for your deficiency later on, so that there may be equalization of burdens.

but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

15 Even as it is written, "He who gathered much had not too much, and he who gathered little had not too little."

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

16 But thanks be to God that He inspires the heart of Titus with the same deep interest in you;

But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

17 for Titus welcomed our request, and, being thoroughly in earnest, comes to you of his own free will.

For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.

18 And we send with him the brother whose praises for his earnestness in proclaiming the Good News are heard throughout all the Churches.

We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known through all the congregations.

19 And more than that, he is the one who was chosen by the vote of the Churches to travel with us, sharing our commission in the administration of this generous gift to promote the Lord's glory and gratify our own strong desire.

Not only so, but who was also appointed by the congregations to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness.

20 For against one thing we are on our guard--I mean against blame being thrown upon us in respect to these large and liberal contributions which are under our charge.

We are avoiding this, that no one should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.

21 For we seek not only God's approval of our integrity, but man's also.

For we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of others.

22 And we send with them our brother, of whose zeal we have had frequent proof in many matters, and who is now more zealous than ever through the strong confidence which he has in you.

We have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you.

23 As for Titus, remember that he is a partner with me, and is my comrade in my labours for you. And as for our brethren, remember that they are delegates from the Churches, and are men in whom Christ is glorified.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the emissaries of the congregations, the glory of Messiah.

24 Exhibit therefore to the Churches a proof of your love, and a justification of our boasting to these brethren about you.

Therefore show the proof of your love to them in front of the congregations, and of our boasting about you.