2 Corinthians 8

1 Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia.

1 弟兄姊妹，我们现在要让你们知道上帝向马其顿各教会所施的恩典。

2 In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.

2 他们虽然遭遇极大的患难，受尽熬炼，却充满了喜乐，在极度贫穷的情况下仍然十分慷慨乐捐。

3 For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord,

3 我可以证明，他们是甘心乐意，尽其所能地捐助，甚至超过了自己的能力。

4 they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

4 他们恳求我们准许他们参与供应有需要的圣徒。

5 And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, through the will of God.

5 他们这样做超过了我们的期望，并且他们按照上帝的旨意首先把自己献给主，然后献给我们。

6 So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it.

6 所以，我们劝提多要继续完成他早先在你们当中开始的这件善事。

7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

7 你们既然在信心、口才、知识、热心和对我们的爱心上都有突出的表现，也要在这件善事上有突出的表现。

8 I am not giving a command, but I am testing the sincerity of your love through the earnestness of others.

8 我说这话并非命令你们，而是借着别人的热心考验一下你们爱心的真伪。

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

9 因为你们知道我们主耶稣基督的恩典，祂本来富足，却为你们的缘故变得贫穷，使你们借着祂的贫穷可以变得富足。

10 And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire.

10 关于捐助的事，我把自己的意见告诉你们：你们一年前开始捐助，并且甘心乐意——这对你们有益。

11 Now finish the work, so that you may complete it with the same eager desire, according to your means.

11 你们要有始有终，既有恳切愿意的心，就要量力而行，办妥这事。

12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

12 因为人只要按自己的能力甘心乐意地去做，必蒙上帝悦纳，上帝不会让人做力所不逮之事。

13 It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.

13 这不是说要别人脱离困境，要你们陷入困境，而是要均平。

14 At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. This way there will be equality.

14 现在你们这些富足的人可以帮补那些有需要的人，以便你们有需要的时候，那些富足的人也可以帮补你们，这样就可以均平了。

15 As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.”

15 正如圣经上说：“多拾的没有剩余，少拾的也没有缺乏。”

16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you.

16 感谢上帝！祂感动了提多的心，使他像我一样热诚地关怀你们。

17 For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition.

17 这固然是他听了我们的劝告，但也是他自己非常热诚，自愿去你们那里。

18 Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel.

18 我们还要派一位弟兄和他同去，这位弟兄在传福音的事上得到各地教会的赞许。

19 More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the gracious offering we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

19 此外，他还受各教会的委派与我们同行，把交给我们的捐款送去，使主得荣耀，并表明我们热诚相助的心。

20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift.

20 我们这样做是为了避免有人挑我们的不是，因我们经手的捐款数目可观。

21 For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.

21 无论在主面前或在人面前，我们务求行事为人光明磊落。

22 And we are sending along with them our brother who has proven his earnestness to us many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you.

22 我们还要再派一位弟兄和他们一同去你们那里。我们经过多次多方的考验，证实他很热心，而且他因为十分信任你们，现在更热心了。

23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

23 至于提多，他是我的同伴，与我一同服侍你们。另外两位弟兄是众教会的代表，是基督的荣耀。

24 In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you.

24 所以，你们要在众教会面前向他们证明你们的爱心，以及我夸耀你们的话并非虚言。