2 Corinthians 8

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

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia.

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

During a great test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and the extremity of their poverty have produced great riches of generosity.

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

For I bear witness that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond what they were able, and of their own free will,

4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

they urgently pleaded with us for the privlege of sharing in this ministry to the believers.

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.

This did not happen as we had expected. Instead, they first gave themselves to the Lord. Then they gave themselves to us by the will of God.

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

So we urged Titus, who had already begun this task, to complete among you this act of grace.

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.

But you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us. So also make sure that you excel in this act of grace.

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

I say this not as a command. Instead, I say this in order to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it to the eagerness of other people.

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.

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

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.

In this matter I will give you advice that will help you. One year ago, you not only started to do something, but you desired to do it.

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.

Now finish it. Just as there was an eagerness and desire to do it then, may you also bring it to completion, as much as you can.

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

For if you are eager to do this deed, it is a good and acceptable thing. It must be based on what a person has, not on what he does not have.

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

For this task is not in order that others may be relieved and you may be burdened. Instead, there should be fairness.

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.

Your abundance at the present time will supply what they need. This is also so that their abundance may supply your need, and so that there may be fairness.

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

It is as it is written: “The one with much did not have anything left over, and the one who had little did not have any lack.”

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

But thanks be to God, who put into Titus' heart the same earnest care that I have for you.

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

For he not only accepted our appeal, but he was also very earnest about it. He came to you of his own free will.

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

We have sent with him the brother who is praised among all of the churches for his work in proclaiming the gospel.

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.

Not only this, but he also was selected by the churches to travel with us in our carrying out this act of grace. This is for the honor of the Lord himself and for our eagerness to help.

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

We are avoiding the possibility that anyone should complain about us concerning this generosity that we are carrying out.

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

We take care to do what is honorable, not only before the Lord, but also before people.

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.

We are also sending another brother with them. We have tested him in many ways and found him diligent for many tasks. He is even more eager now because of the great confidence he has in you.

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.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are sent by the churches. They are an honor to Christ.

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

So show them your love, and show to the churches the reason for our boasting about you.