2 Corinthians 8
1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,
第一項 醵金の方法 兄弟等よ、我等マケドニア[國]の諸教會に賜はりたる神の恩寵を汝等に告ぐ、
2 how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity.
即ち彼等は夥しき患難の試に遇ひたれども、其喜溢れ、其甚しき貧窮は、豊に其吝なき志の富を顕せり。
3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
彼等は力に應じて、否我彼等の為に保證す、力以上に快く施せり。
4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.
即ち頻に聖徒等に對する醵金に與る恵を求めて、
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.
我等の希望以外にも亦自ら、先己を主に任せ、次に神の思召によりて我等にも任せたり。
6 So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
然れば我等チトに望みて、既に此慈善事業を始めたれば、汝等の中にも亦之を為遂げん事を願へり。
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.
故に汝等信仰に、言語に、學識に、凡ての奮發に、又我等に對する愛に、一切に於て富めるが如く、此慈善にも富む者となれかし。
8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
我は之を命ずるが如くには言はず、他人の奮發を以て汝等の愛の眞實を試みんとす。
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.
蓋汝等わが主イエズス、キリストの恩寵を知れり、即ち富める者にて在しながら、己が貧しきを以て汝等を富ましめんとて、汝等の為に貧しき者となり給ひしなり。
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.
是に就きて我は勧告す、此慈善は汝等に益あり、蓋汝等先に之を為し始めし耳ならず、一年前より志したる事なれば、
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.
今は實際に之を為遂げよ、是志の早かりし如く、所有物に應じて為遂ぐる事も亦早からん為なり。
12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.
其は假令志す事早くとも嘉納せらるるは有たざるものに由らずして有てるものに由ればなり。
13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,
是他人に寛にして汝等を苦めんとするに非ず、平均の為なり。
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.
現に汝等の餘る所は、彼等の缺乏を補はざるべからず、然らば彼等の餘る所も亦汝等の缺乏を補ひて、平均するに至るべし。録して、
15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
「多く得たりし人は餘る事なく、少く得たりし人は足らざる事なかりき」、とあるが如し。
16 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
神に感謝す、チトの心にも汝等に對して同じ奮發を賜ひたるによりて、
17 For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.
彼は勧を容れし耳ならず、奮發の心尚深くして、進みて汝等の許へ出立せり。
18 We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies.
我等又彼と共に一人の兄弟を遣はしたるが、此人は福音に就きて諸教會に普く誉ある
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.
耳ならず、主の光榮の為、又我等が志を顕さん為に行へる慈善に就きて、諸教會より我等の旅の侶とせられたるなり。即ち我等は注意して、
20 We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.
多額の醵金を取扱ふに、人に咎められざらんとす。
21 Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
其は神の御前に耳ならず、人の前にも善からんことを慮ればなり。
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.
尚彼等と共に又一人の兄弟を遣はしたるが、我等は其奮發を多くの事に就きて屡認めたる耳ならず、今は大いに汝等を信用するに由りて其奮發心の更に著しきを認む。
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.
然れば我が友たり汝等に對する協力者たるチトに於ても、諸教會の使たりキリストの名誉たる我等の兄弟等に於ても、
24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.
汝等の愛と、我等が汝等に就きて誇れる事との徴を諸教會の面前に顕せ。
