2 Korinčanima 8
1 Priopćujemo vam, braćo, milost Božju koja je dana crkvama makedonskim:
We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia.
2 unatoč mnogim kušnjama i nevoljama izobilna njihova radost i skrajnje siromaštvo preli se u bogatstvo darežljivosti.
During a great test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the extremity of their poverty have produced great riches of generosity.
3 Svjedočim uistinu: oni su nas dragovoljno - po svojim mogućnostima i preko mogućnosti -
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,
4 veoma usrdno molili za milost zajedništva u ovom posluživanju svetih.
they urgently pleaded with us for the privlege of sharing in this ministry to the believers.
5 I to ne samo kako se nadasmo, nego same sebe predadoše najprvo Gospodinu, a onda nama, po volji Božjoj.
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.
6 Zato zamolismo Tita da kao što je započeo, tako i dovrši među vama i to djelo darežljivosti.
So we urged Titus, who had already begun this task, to complete among you this act of grace.
7 Stoga kao što se u svemu odlikujete - u vjeri, i riječi, i spoznanju, i svakoj gorljivosti, i u ljubavi svojoj prema nama - odlikujte se i u ovoj darežljivosti.
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.
8 Ne zapovijedam, nego gorljivošću drugih prokušavam istinitost vaše ljubavi.
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.
9 Ta poznate darežljivost Gospodina našega Isusa Krista! Premda bogat, radi vas posta siromašan, da se vi njegovim siromaštvom obogatite.
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.
10 Time dajem samo savjet: to doista dolikuje vama koji već prošle godine prvi to započeste, ne samo činom nego i odlukom.
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.
11 Sada dovršite to djelo da kao što spremno odlučiste, tako prema mogućnostima i dovršite.
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.
12 Jer ima li spremnosti, mila je po onom što ima, a ne po onom čega nema.
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.
13 Ne dakako: drugima olakšica, vama oskudica, nego - jednakost!
For this task is not in order that others may be relieved and you may be burdened. Instead, there should be fairness.
14 U sadašnjem trenutku vaš suvišak za njihovu oskudicu da jednom njihov suvišak bude za vašu oskudicu - te bude jednakost,
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.
15 kao što je pisano: Nije ništa preteklo onome koji bijaše nakupio mnogo, a niti je nedostajalo onome koji bijaše nakupio manje.
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.”
16 A hvala Bogu koji je stavio jednaku gorljivost za vas u srce Titovo.
But thanks be to God, who put into Titus' heart the same earnest care that I have for you.
17 On je prihvatio i molbu, ali budući da je veoma revan, otiđe k vama i dragovoljno.
For he not only accepted our appeal, but he was also very earnest about it. He came to you of his own free will.
18 S njime pak šaljemo brata kojega s evanđelja slave sve crkve.
We have sent with him the brother who is praised among all of the churches for his work in proclaiming the gospel.
19 Štoviše, crkve ga izabraše za našeg suputnika u ovom djelu darežljivosti kojemu služimo - na slavu samoga Gospodina i na našu želju
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.
20 kako bismo izbjegli da nas tko ne prekori zbog ovog obilja kojim raspolažemo.
We are avoiding the possibility that anyone should complain about us concerning this generosity that we are carrying out.
21 Doista, revno nastojimo oko dobra ne samo pred Gospodinom nego i pred ljudima.
We take care to do what is honorable, not only before the Lord, but also before people.
22 Šaljemo s njima i našega brata koji je, kako smo u mnogome često iskusili, gorljiv, a sada je još mnogo gorljiviji zbog velikoga pouzdanja u vas.
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.
23 A Tito? Moj je drug i suradnik za vas. A braća naša? Poslanici su crkava, slava Kristova.
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.
24 Pružite im dakle pred crkvama dokaz svoje ljubavi i toga da se s pravom vama ponosimo.
So show them your love, and show to the churches the reason for our boasting about you.
