2 Corinthians 8

1 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;

And, my brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which was conferred on the churches of the Macedonians;

2 how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

that in the great trial of their affliction, there was an abounding to their joy, and the depth of their poverty was exuberant in the riches of their liberality.

3 For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, [they gave] of their own accord,

For I testify that, according to their ability, and beyond their ability, in the spontaneity of their mind,

4 beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:

they besought us, with much entreaty, that they might participate in the beneficence of the ministration to the saints.

5 and [this], not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

And not only as we had expected, but they first gave themselves unto the Lord, and to us by the will of God.

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

So that we requested Titus, that as he had begun, so he would perfect in you also the same beneficence.

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

And as ye are enriched in every thing, in faith, and speech, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in our love towards you, so abound ye in this beneficence 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 actually command you, but by the promptitude of your fellow disciples, I would test the sincerity of your love.

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

For ye know the goodness of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, who when he was rich, for your sakes became poor, that by his poverty ye might be made rich.

10 And herein I give [my] judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.

And I urgently recommend to you, that which is for your advantage; inasmuch as ye began, a year ago, not only to purpose, but also to perform.

11 But now complete the doing also; that as [there was] the readiness to will, so [there may be] the completion also out of your ability.

And now complete ye by action, what ye purposed; that as ye had a promptitude in your purposing, so ye may fulfill it in action, according to your ability.

12 For if the readiness is there, [it is] acceptable according as [a man] hath, not according as [he] hath not.

For if there is a willingness, a person is accepted according to what he hath, and not according to what he hath not.

13 For [I say] not [this] that others may be eased [and] ye distressed;

For it is not, that others may have easement, and you pressure;

14 but by equality: your abundance [being a supply] at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become [a supply] for your want; that there may be equality:

but that ye may be on equality at the present time; and that your abundance may be a supply to their want; that their abundance likewise may be a supply to your want; that there may be equality.

15 as it is written, He that [gathered] much had nothing over; and he that [gathered] little had no lack.

As it is written, He who gathered much, had nothing over; and he that gathered little, was not deficient.

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

But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus this solicitude for you.

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

For he received our exhortation; and, because he was very anxious, he cheerfully set out to visit you.

18 And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel [is spread] through all the churches;

And we also sent with him that our brother, whose praise in the gospel is in all the churches;

19 and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in [the matter of] this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and [to show] our readiness:

inasmuch as he likewise had been expressly chosen by the churches, to accompany me with this beneficence which is ministered by us to the glory of God and to our cordiality.

20 avoiding this, that any man should blame us in [the matter of] this bounty which is ministered by us:

And we hereby guarded, that no one should cast censure on us, in respect to this abundance which is ministered by us.

21 for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

For we are attentive to things commendable, not only before God, but also before men.

22 And 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 hath] in you.

And we also sent with them that brother of ours, who hath often, and in many things, been proved diligent by us; and is now particularly diligent, from the great confidence he hath in you.

23 Whether [any inquire] about Titus, [he is] my partner and [my] fellow-worker to you-ward; or our brethren, [they are] the messengers of the churches, [they are] the glory of Christ.

And therefore, if Titus be inquired about, he is my associate and assistant among you: or if our other brethren, they are the legates of the churches of the Messiah's glory.

24 Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.

Therefore exhibit ye to them, in the presence of all the churches, a demonstration of your love and of our glorying respecting you.