2 Corinthians 8

1And we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,

1And now we give you news, brothers, about the grace of God which has been given to the churches of Macedonia;

2because in much trial of tribulation the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, did abound to the riches of their liberality;

2How while they were undergoing every sort of trouble, and were in the greatest need, they took all the greater joy in being able to give freely to the needs of others.

3because, according to <FI>their<Fi> power, I testify, and above <FI>their<Fi> power, they were willing of themselves,

3For I give them witness, that as they were able, and even more than they were able, they gave from the impulse of their hearts,

4with much entreaty calling on us to receive the favour and the fellowship of the ministration to the saints,

4Seriously requesting us that they might have a part in this grace of being servants to the needs of the saints:

5and not according as we expected, but themselves they did give first to the Lord, and to us, through the will of God,

5And going even farther than our hope, they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us after the purpose of God.

6so that we exhorted Titus, that, according as he did begin before, so also he may finish to you also this favour,

6So that we made a request to Titus that, as he had made a start before, so he might make this grace complete in you.

7but even as in every thing ye do abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this grace ye may abound;

7And that as you are full of every good thing, of faith, of the word, of knowledge, of a ready mind, and of love to us, so you may be full of this grace in the same way.

8not according to command do I speak, but because of the diligence of others, and of your love proving the genuineness,

8I am not giving you an order, but using the ready mind of others as a test of the quality of your love.

9for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that because of you he became poor--being rich, that ye by that poverty may become rich.

9For you see the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how though he had wealth, he became poor on your account, so that through his need you might have wealth.

10and an opinion in this do I give: for this to you <FI>is<Fi> expedient, who not only to do, but also to will, did begin before--a year ago,

10And in this I give my opinion: for it is to your profit, who were the first to make a start a year before, not only to do this, but to make clear that your minds were more than ready to do it.

11and now also finish doing <FI>it<Fi> , that even as <FI>there is<Fi> the readiness of the will, so also the finishing, out of that which ye have,

11Then make the doing of it complete; so that as you had a ready mind, you may give effect to it as you are able.

12for if the willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath not;

12For if there is a ready mind, a man will have God's approval in the measure of what he has, and not of what he has not.

13for not that for others release, and ye pressured, <FI>do I speak,<Fi>

13And I am not saying this so that others may get off free, while the weight comes on you:

14but by equality, at the present time your abundance--for their want, that also their abundance may be for your want, that there may be equality,

14But so that things may be equal; that from those things of which you have more than enough at the present time their need may be helped, and that if you are in any need they may be a help to you in the same way, making things equal.

15according as it hath been written, `He who <FI>did gather<Fi> much, had nothing over; and he who <FI>did gather<Fi> little, had no lack.'

15As it says in the Writings, He who had taken up much had nothing over and he who had little had enough.

16And thanks to God, who is putting the same diligence for you in the heart of Titus,

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

17because indeed the exhortation he accepted, and being more diligent, of his own accord he went forth unto you,

17For while he gladly gave ear to our request, he was interested enough to go to you from the impulse of his heart.

18and we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the good news <FI>is<Fi> through all the assemblies,

18And with him we have sent a brother whose praise in the good news has gone through all the churches;

19and not only so, but who was also appointed by vote by the assemblies, our fellow-traveller, with this favour that is ministered by us, unto the glory of the same Lord, and your willing mind;

19And not only so, but he was marked out by the churches to go with us in the grace of this giving which we have undertaken to the glory of the Lord and to make clear that our mind was ready:

20avoiding this, lest any one may blame us in this abundance that is ministered by us,

20And so that no man might be able to say anything against us in the business of this giving which has been put into our hands:

21providing right things, not only before the Lord, but also before men;

21For the business has been so ordered by us as to have the approval, not only of the Lord, but of men.

22and we sent with them our brother, whom we proved in many things many times being diligent, and now much more diligent, by the great confidence that is toward you,

22And we have sent with them our brother, whose ready spirit has been made clear to us at times and in ways without number, but it is now all the more so because of the certain faith which he has in you.

23whether--about Titus--my partner and towards you fellow-worker, whether--our brethren, apostles of assemblies--glory of Christ;

23If any question comes up about Titus, he is my brother-worker, working with me for you; or about the others, they are the representatives of the churches to the glory of Christ.

24the shewing therefore of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf, to them shew ye, even in the face of the assemblies.

24Make clear then to them, as representatives of the churches, the quality of your love, and that the things which we have said about you are true.