2 Corinthians 8

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

And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace of God that has been bestowed upon the congregations 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 in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their extreme poverty produced their extravagant, sincere generosity.

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

Because according to their ability, I bear witness, even beyond that ability, of their own accord,

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

they begged us with much entreaty to receive the gift, the sharing in the ministry 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 more than we had hoped, they first gave themselves to the Lord (and due to God's will, to us).

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

So we urged Titus that as he had made a beginning so he should also bring to completion in you this grace as well;

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.

that as you excel in everything—in faith, in word, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—that you excel in this grace too.

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

I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

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 our sakes He became poor, so 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.

So here is my advice in this (since already a year ago you began to give and to plan, this is to your advantage):

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 you must really finish the doing—not only of the enthusiastic planning but also of the completing—out of what 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.

(because when the intention is presented, it is acceptable according to what one may have, not what he does not have).

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

Now this is not to distress you so as to relieve others,

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.

but by way of balance—at this juncture your surplus alleviates their lack, so that later their surplus may alleviate your lack—yes, that there be balance;

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 who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.”

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

Now thanks be to God who puts 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.

because he not only welcomed my appeal but being very diligent 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.

But we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Gospel is throughout all the congregations;

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 not only that—he was actually chosen by the congregations as our traveling companion with this gift, that is being administered by us with a view to the glory of the Lord Himself, and to our own goodwill,

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

avoiding any criticism about how we are handling this abundance;

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

giving thought to blamelessness, not only before the Lord but also before 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.

Further, we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved to be diligent in many things, but now much more so, because of our great confidence 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.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker toward you; as for our brothers, they are envoys of the congregations, a glory of Christ.

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

Therefore show the proof of your love (and of our boasting about you) to them as representatives of the congregations.