2 Corinthians 8

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

We make known to you, brethren, God’s gracious gift, which has been given in the churches of Macedonia;

2 how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity.

that under an afflicting trial, their overflowing joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality;

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

for I testify that according to their power, and beyond their power, they gave voluntarily,

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

beseeching us, with much entreaty, that they might give, and take part in the ministering to the saints;

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

and they did this, not only as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to us, through the will of God;

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

so that we exhorted Titus, that, as he had previously begun, so he would bring to an end this gift among you also.

7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.

Now as you excel in every thing, in faith, and in speech, and in knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us, see that you excel in this gift also.

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

I do not speak this as a commandment, but on account of the zeal of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

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

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

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

And I give my judgment in this matter; for this is profitable for you, who began not only to do, but to show a willing mind, a year ago.

11 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.

Now, therefore, perfect also the doing of this; that as there was a readiness of mind to be willing, so also there may be an accomplishment of the doing, out of that which you have.

12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.

For if there is a readiness of mind, one is accepted according to what he has, not according to what he has not.

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

For I do not intend that there shall be relief to others, and affliction to you; but that, according to equality, your abundance, at the present time, may supply their wants;

14 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.

and that, at a future time, their abundance may supply your wants; that there may be 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 did not lack.

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

But thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care for you in the heart of Titus:

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

for he accepted my exhortation, and, being more earnest, he went to you of his own accord.

18 We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies.

And we have sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is in all the churches;

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

and who, moreover, was chosen by the churches as our fellow-traveler with this gift, which is to be distributed by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and as a declaration of your readiness of mind;

20 We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.

being careful for this―that no one shall blame us in this abundance, which is ministered by us;

21 Having regard for honourable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

for we provide what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 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.

And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more diligent on account of the strong confidence which he has in you.

23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.

If it is necessary to speak of Titus, he is my partner and fellow-worker for you; if our brethren are spoken of, they are the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.

Therefore, give to them, in the presence of the churches, a proof of your love, and of our boasting of you.