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 we make known unto you, brethren, the favour of God which hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia, —

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

That, in a great testing of tribulation, the superabounding of their joy and their deep destitution, superabounded unto 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.

That, according to power, I bear witness, and beyond power, of their own accord, [they acted], —

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.

With much exhortation, entreating of us the favour and the fellowship of the ministry which was for the saints; —

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.

And, not merely as we hoped, but, themselves, gave they, first, unto the Lord and unto us through God’s will,

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.

To the end we should exhort Titus, in order that, according as he before made a beginning, so, he should also complete unto you this favour also.

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, just as, in everything, ye superabound, —in faith, and discourse, and knowledge, and all earnestness, and in the love among you which proceedeth from us, in order that, in this favour also, ye would superabound.

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.

Not by way of injunction, do I speak, but through, others’, earnestness, and, the genuineness of your own love, putting to the test.

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 ye are taking knowledge of the favour of our Lord Jesus [Christ], —how that, for your sakes, he became destitute—although he was, rich, in order that, ye, by his destitution, might be enriched.

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.

And, a judgment, herein, do I give, —for, this, unto you, is profitable, —who, indeed, not only of the doing, but of the desiring, made for yourselves a beginning a year ago; —

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.

Howbeit, now, the doing also, complete ye, in order that, even according to the forwardness of the desiring, so, may be the completing—out of what ye have.

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 forwardness is set forth, according to what one may have, he is well approved, not according to what one hath not.

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

For, not that unto others should be relief, and unto you distress [do I speak], but, by equality, in the present season, your surplus for their deficiency, —

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.

In order that their surplus may come to be for your deficiency: that there may come about an equality: —

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

Even as it is written—He that [gathered] the much, had not more than enough, and, he that [gathered] the little, had not less,

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

Thanks, however, unto God!—who is putting the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of Titus,

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

In that, though, indeed, the exhortation, he welcomed; yet already being, greatly in earnest, of his own accord, hath he gone forth unto you.

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

Howbeit, we also set forward, with him, the brother, whose praise in the Glad Tidings, [hath gone] through all the assemblies: —

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, however, but he hath also been appointed by the assemblies, as a fellow-traveler with us in this favour, which is being ministered by us with a view to the Lord’s glory and our earnest desire: —

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.

Arranging this—lest anyone, upon us, should cast blame, in this munificence which is being ministered by us;

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

For we provide things honourable, not only before [the] Lord, but also before men.

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.

Moreover we have set forward, with them, our brother whom we have proved, in many things, ofttimes, earnest, —but, now, much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence [which he hath] towards 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.

Whether as regardeth Titus, he is a partner of mine, and, towards you, a fellow-worker. or our brethren, apostles of assemblies, and Christ’s glory.

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

The proof of your love, therefore, and of our boasting in your behalf, shew ye, unto them, in the face of the assemblies.