2 Corinthians 8

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

1 Men vi kundgøre eder, Brødre! den Guds Nåde, som er given i Makedoniens Menigheder,

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

2 at under megen Trængsels Prøvelse har deres overstrømmende Glæde og deres dybe Fattigdom strømmet over i deres Gavmildheds Rigdom.

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

3 Thi efter Evne (det vidner jeg) gave de, ja, over Evne af egen Drift,

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

4 idet de med megen Overtalelse bade os om den Nåde at måtte tage Del i Hjælpen til de hellige,

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 og ikke alene som vi havde håbet, men sig selv gav de først og fremmest til Herren og så til os, ved Guds Villie,

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

6 så at vi opfordrede Titus til, ligesom han forhen havde begyndt, således også til at tilendebringe hos eder også denne Gave.

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 Men ligesom I ere rige i alt, i Tro og Tale og Erkendelse og al Iver og i eders Kærlighed til os: måtte I da være rige også i denne Gave!

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

8 Jeg siger det ikke som en Befaling, men for ved andres Iver at prøve også eders Kærligheds Ægthed.

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 I kende jo vor Herres Jesu Kristi Nåde, at han for eders Skyld blev fattig, da han var rig, for at I ved hans Fattigdom skulde blive rige.

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 Og jeg giver min Mening herom til Kende; thi dette er eder gavnligt, I, som jo i Fjor vare de første til at begynde, ikke alene med Gerningen, men endogså med Villien dertil.

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

11 Men fuldbringer da nu også Gerningen, for at, ligesom I vare redebonne til at ville, I også må fuldbringe det efter eders Evne.

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 Thi når Redebonheden er til Stede, da er den velbehagelig efter, hvad den evner, ikke efter, hvad den ikke evner.

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

13 Det er nemlig ikke Meningen, at andre skulle have Lettelse og I Trængsel; nej, det skal være ligeligt. Nu for Tiden må eders Overflod komme hines Trang til Hjælp,

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 for at også hines Overflod kan komme eders Trang til Hjælp, for at der kan blive Ligelighed,

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

15 som der er skrevet: “Den, som sankede meget, fik ikke for meget, og den, som sankede lidet, fik ikke for lidt.”

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

16 Men Gud ske Tak, som giver den samme Iver for eder i Titus's Hjerte!

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

17 Thi vel har han modtaget min Opfordring; men da han er så ivrig, så er det af egen Drift, at han rejser til eder.

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

18 Og sammen med ham sende vi den Broder, hvis Ros i Evangeliet går igennem alle Menighederne,

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 og ikke det alene, men han er også udvalgt af Menighederne til at rejse med os med denne Gave, som besørges af os, for at fremme selve Herrens Ære og vor Redebonhed,

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

20 idet vi undgå dette, at nogen skulde kunne laste os i Anledning af denne rige Hjælp, som besørges af os;

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 thi vi lægge Vind på, hvad der er godt ikke alene i Herrens, men også i Menneskers Øjne.

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 Men sammen med dem sende vi vor Broder, hvis Iver vi ofte i mange Måder have prøvet, men som nu er langt ivrigere på Grund af sin støre Tillid til eder.

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 Hvad Titus angår, da er han min Fælle og Medarbejder hos eder, og hvad vore Brødre angår, da ere de Menighedsudsendinge, Kristi Ære.

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 Så giver dem da for Menighedernes Åsyn Beviset på eders Kærlighed og for det, vi have rost eder for.