2 Corinthians 8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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 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.

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 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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.

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

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

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

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 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.

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 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.

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