2 Corinthians 8

1 Moreover we make known unto you, brethren, the favour of God which hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia, —

弟兄們! 如今田願意告訴你們：天主在馬其頓所施與的恩惠，

2 That, in a great testing of tribulation, the superabounding of their joy and their deep destitution, superabounded unto the riches of their liberality;

就是他們在患難頻繁的試探中所充滿的喜樂，和他們極度的貧困所湧出的豐厚慷慨，。

3 That, according to power, I bear witness, and beyond power, of their own accord, [they acted], —

我可以作證：他們是盡了力量，甚至超過了力量，自動的捐輸，

4 With much exhortation, entreating of us the favour and the fellowship of the ministry which was for the saints; —

再三懇求我們准他們分享供應聖徒的恩惠。

5 And, not merely as we hoped, but, themselves, gave they, first, unto the Lord and unto us through God’s will,

他們所作的，不但如我們所盻望的，而且按照天主的旨意把自己先奉獻給主也獻給了我們；

6 To the end we should exhort Titus, in order that, according as he before made a beginning, so, he should also complete unto you this favour also.

因此我們請求弟鐸，他既然開始了這慈善的事，也在你們中予以完成。

7 But, just as, in everything, ye superabound, —in faith, and discourse, and knowledge, and all earnestness, and in the love among you which proceedeth from us, in order that, in this favour also, ye would superabound.

就如你們在一切事上，在信德語言、知識和各種熱情上，並在我們所交於你們的愛情上，超群出眾，這樣也要在這慈善事上超群出眾。

8 Not by way of injunction, do I speak, but through, others’, earnestness, and, the genuineness of your own love, putting to the test.

我說這話並不是出命，而是藉別人的熱情來試探你們愛情的真誠。

9 For ye are taking knowledge of the favour of our Lord Jesus [Christ], —how that, for your sakes, he became destitute—although he was, rich, in order that, ye, by his destitution, might be enriched.

因為你們知道我們的主耶穌基督的恩賜：衪本是富有的，為了你們卻成了貧困的，好使你們因著衪的貧困而成為富有的。

10 And, a judgment, herein, do I give, —for, this, unto you, is profitable, —who, indeed, not only of the doing, but of the desiring, made for yourselves a beginning a year ago; —

我在這事上只給你們供獻意見，因為這樣更適合於你們，因為你們從去年不但己開始實行了，而且還是出於自願。

11 Howbeit, now, the doing also, complete ye, in order that, even according to the forwardness of the desiring, so, may be the completing—out of what ye have.

所以如今，請完成你們所實行的事罷! 好使你們怎樣甘心情願，也怎樣照所有的予以完成，

12 For, if the forwardness is set forth, according to what one may have, he is well approved, not according to what one hath not.

因為只要有甘心情願在，蒙受悅納是照所有，不是照所無的。

13 For, not that unto others should be relief, and unto you distress [do I speak], but, by equality, in the present season, your surplus for their deficiency, —

這不是說要使別人輕鬆，叫你們為難；而是說要出於均勻：

14 In order that their surplus may come to be for your deficiency: that there may come about an equality: —

在現今的時候，你們的富裕彌補了他們的缺乏，好使他們的富裕也彌補的你們的缺乏，這樣就有了均勻，

15 Even as it is written—He that [gathered] the much, had not more than enough, and, he that [gathered] the little, had not less,

正如所記載的：『多收的沒有富裕，少收的也沒有不足。』

16 Thanks, however, unto God!—who is putting the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of Titus,

感謝天主，把我對你們所有的同樣慹情賜在弟鐸的心裏，

17 In that, though, indeed, the exhortation, he welcomed; yet already being, greatly in earnest, of his own accord, hath he gone forth unto you.

因為他接受了我們的請求，而且因他更為關心，便自動起身往你們那裏去了。

18 Howbeit, we also set forward, with him, the brother, whose praise in the Glad Tidings, [hath gone] through all the assemblies: —

同時我也打發了一位弟兄和他同去，這人在宣講福音上所受讚美傳遍了各教會──

19 Not only so, however, but he hath also been appointed by the assemblies, as a fellow-traveler with us in this favour, which is being ministered by us with a view to the Lord’s glory and our earnest desire: —

不但如此，而且各教會也派定他作我們的旅伴，我們經管這事是為主的光榮，並為表現我們的好心──

20 Arranging this—lest anyone, upon us, should cast blame, in this munificence which is being ministered by us;

我們這樣防範，是為避免有人在我們所經營的這巨款上來毀謗我們，

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

因為我們不但在主面前關心我們的美名，而也在人的面前前。

22 Moreover we have set forward, with them, our brother whom we have proved, in many things, ofttimes, earnest, —but, now, much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence [which he hath] towards you.

我們還打發了一位弟兄與他們同去，我們在許多事上，屢次驗過他是熱情的；如今因他對你們大有信心，當然更加熱情了。

23 Whether as regardeth Titus, he is a partner of mine, and, towards you, a fellow-worker. or our brethren, apostles of assemblies, and Christ’s glory.

論到弟鐸，他是我的同伴，為你們也是我的助手；論到我們的那兩位弟兄，他們是教會的使者，是基督的光榮，

24 The proof of your love, therefore, and of our boasting in your behalf, shew ye, unto them, in the face of the assemblies.

所以你們要在眾教會前，向他們證實你們的愛情，和我們對你們所有的誇耀。