2 Corinthians 8

1 But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia;

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

2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their [free-hearted] liberality.

how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity.

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

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

4 begging of us with much entreaty [to give effect to] the grace and fellowship of the service which [was to be rendered] to the saints.

begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the holy ones.

5 And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.

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.

6 So that we begged Titus that, according as he had before begun, so he would also complete as to you this grace also;

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

7 but even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.

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.

8 I do not speak as commanding [it], but through the zeal of others, and proving the genuineness of your love.

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

9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that ye by his poverty might be enriched.

For you know the grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

10 And I give [my] opinion in this, for this is profitable for you who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.

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.

11 But now also complete the doing of it; so that as [there was] the readiness to be willing, so also to complete out of what ye have.

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.

12 For if the readiness be there, [a man is] accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he has not.

For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.

13 For [it is] not in order that there may be ease for others, and for you distress,

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

14 but [on the principle] of equality; in the present time your abundance for their lack, that their abundance may be for your lack, so that there should be equality.

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.

15 According as it is written, He who [gathered] much had no excess, and he who [gathered] little was nothing short.

As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

16 But thanks [be] to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in the heart of Titus.

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

17 For he received indeed the entreaty, but, being full of zeal, he went of his own accord to you;

For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.

18 but we have sent with him the brother whose praise [is] in the glad tidings through all the assemblies;

We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies.

19 and not only [so], but [is] also chosen by the assemblies as our fellow-traveller with this grace, ministered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and [a witness of] our readiness;

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.

20 avoiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance [which is] administered by us;

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

21 for we provide for things honest, not only before [the] Lord, but also before men.

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

22 And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved to be of diligent zeal in many things, and now more diligently zealous through the great confidence [he has] as to you.

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.

23 Whether as regards Titus, [he is] my companion and fellow-labourer in your behalf; or our brethren, [they are] deputed messengers of assemblies, Christ's glory.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the emissaries of the assemblies, the glory of Messiah.

24 Shew therefore to them, before the assemblies, the proof of your love, and of our boasting about you.

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