2 Corinthians 8
1 And so we are making known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given in the churches of Macedonia.
Men vi kundgøre eder, Brødre! den Guds Naade, som er given i Makedoniens Menigheder,
2 For within a great experience of tribulation, they have had an abundance of joy, and their profound poverty has only increased the richness of their simplicity.
at under megen Trængsels Prøvelse har deres overstrømmende Glæde og deres dybe Fattigdom strømmet over i deres Gavmildheds Rigdom.
3 And I bear witness to them, that they were willing to accept what was in accord with their ability, and even what was beyond their ability.
Thi efter Evne (det vidner jeg) gave de, ja, over Evne, af egen Drift,
4 For they were begging us, with great exhortation, for the grace and the communication of the ministry that is with the saints.
idet de med megen Overtalelse bade os om den Naade at maatte tage Del i Hjælpen til de hellige,
5 And this is beyond what we had hoped, since they gave themselves, first of all to the Lord, and then also to us, through the will of God,
og ikke alene som vi havde haabet, men sig selv gav de først og fremmest til Herren og saa til os, ved Guds Villie,
6 so much so that we petitioned Titus, that in the same manner as he had begun, he would also complete in you this same grace.
saa at vi opfordrede Titus til, ligesom han forhen havde begyndt, saaledes ogsaa at tilendebringe hos eder ogsaa denne Gave.
7 But, just as in all things you abound in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all solicitude, and even more so in your charity toward us, so also may you abound in this grace.
Men ligesom I ere rige i alt, i Tro og Tale og Erkendelse og al Iver og i eders Kærlighed til os: Maatte I da være rige ogsaa i denne Gave!
8 I am speaking, not commanding. But through the solicitude of others, I approve of the good character of your charity.
Jeg siger det ikke som en Befaling, men for ved andres Iver at prøve ogsaa eders Kærligheds Ægthed.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that through his poverty, you might become rich.
I kende jo vor Herres Jesu Kristi Naade, at han for eders Skyld blev fattig, da han var rig, for at I ved hans Fattigdom skulde blive rige.
10 And about this, I give my counsel. For this is useful to those of you who, only a year earlier, had just begun to act, or even to be willing to act.
Og jeg giver min Mening herom til Kende; thi dette er eder gavnligt, I, som jo i Fjor vare de første til at begynde, ikke alene med Gerningen, men endogsaa med Villien dertil.
11 So, truly now, accomplish this in deed, so that, in the same manner as your willing mind is prompted, you may also act, out of that which you have.
Men fuldbringer da nu ogsaa Gerningen, for at, ligesom I vare redebonne til at ville, I ogsaa maa fuldbringe det efter eders Evne.
12 For when the will is prompted, it receives according to what that person has, not according to what that person does not have.
Thi naar Redebonheden er til Stede, da er den velbehagelig efter, hvad den evner, ikke efter, hvad den ikke evner.
13 And it is not that others should be relieved, while you are troubled, but that there should be an equality.
Det er nemlig ikke Meningen, at andre skulle have Lettelse og I Trængsel; nej, det skal være ligeligt. Nu for Tiden maa eders Overflod komme hines Trang til Hjælp,
14 In this present time, let your abundance supply their need, so that their abundance may also supply your need, in order that there may be an equality, just as it was written:
for at ogsaa hines Overflod kan komme eders Trang til Hjælp, for at der kan blive Ligelighed,
15 “He with more did not have too much; and he with less did not have too little.”
som der er skrevet: „Den, som sankede meget, fik ikke for meget, og den, som sankede lidet, fik ikke for lidt.‟
16 But thanks be to God, who has granted to the heart of Titus, this same solicitude for you.
Men Gud ske Tak, som giver den samme Iver for eder i Titus's Hjerte!
17 For certainly, he accepted the exhortation. But since he was more solicitous, he went to you of his own free will.
Thi vel har han modtaget min Opfordring; men da han er saa ivrig, saa er det af egen Drift, at han rejser til eder.
18 And we have even sent with him a brother whose praise accompanies the Gospel throughout all the churches.
Og sammen med ham sende vi den Broder, hvis Ros i Evangeliet gaar igennem alle Menighederne,
19 And not only that, but he was also chosen by the churches to be a companion for our sojourn in this grace, which is ministered by us with our determined will, to the glory of the Lord.
og ikke det alene, men han er ogsaa udvalgt af Menederne til at rejse med os med denne Gave, som besørges af os, for at fremme selve Herrens Ære og vor Redebonhed,
20 So let us avoid this, lest anyone disparage us over the abundance that is ministered by us.
idet vi undgaa dette, at nogen skulde kunne laste os i Anledning af denne rige Hjælp, som besørges af os;
21 For we provide for what is good, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men.
thi vi lægge Vind paa, hvad der er godt ikke alene i Herrens, men ogsaa i Menneskers Øjne.
22 And we have also sent with them our brother, whom we have proven to be frequently solicitous in many matters. But now there is a greater solicitousness, which is greatly entrusted to you;
Men sammen med dem sende vi vor Broder, hvis Iver vi ofte i mange Maader have prøvet, men som nu er langt ivrigere paa Grund af sin store Tillid til eder.
23 and whether it concerns Titus, who is a companion to me and a helper to you, or whether it concerns our brothers, the Apostles of the churches, it is to the glory of Christ.
Hvad Titus angaar, da er han min Fælle og Medarbejder hos eder, og hvad vore Brødre angaar, da ere de Menighedsudsendinge, Kristi Ære.
24 Therefore, in the sight of the churches, show them the proof of your charity and of our glorying about you.
Saa giver dem da for Menighedernes Aasyn Beviset paa eders Kærlighed og for det, vi have rost eder for.
