1 M oreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia;

2 h ow that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their liberality.

3 F or to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

For according to power, I bear witness, and beyond power, willing of their own accord,

4 p raying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

begging of us with much entreaty the grace and fellowship of the service which to the saints.

5 A nd this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.

6 I nsomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

So that we begged Titus that, according as he had before begun, so he would also complete as to you this grace also;

7 T herefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

but even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.

8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

I do not speak as commanding, but through the zeal of others, and proving the genuineness of your love.

9 F or ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that ye by his poverty might be enriched.

10 A nd herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

And I give opinion in this, for this is profitable for you who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.

11 N ow therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

But now also complete the doing of it; so that as the readiness to be willing, so also to complete out of what ye have.

12 F or if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

For if the readiness be there, accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he has not.

13 F or I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

For not in order that there may be ease for others, and for you distress,

14 b ut by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

but of equality; in the present time your abundance for their lack, that their abundance may be for your lack, so that there should be equality.

15 a s it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

According as it is written, He who much had no excess, and he who little was nothing short.

16 B ut thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

But thanks to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in the heart of Titus.

17 F or indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

For he received indeed the entreaty, but, being full of zeal, he went of his own accord to you;

18 A nd we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

but we have sent with him the brother whose praise in the glad tidings through all the assemblies;

19 a nd not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind:

and not only, but also chosen by the assemblies as our fellow-traveller with this grace, ministered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and our readiness;

20 a voiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

avoiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance administered by us;

21 p roviding for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

for we provide for things honest, not only before Lord, but also before men.

22 A nd we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.

And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved to be of diligent zeal in many things, and now more diligently zealous through the great confidence as to you.

23 W hether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

Whether as regards Titus, my companion and fellow-labourer in your behalf; or our brethren, deputed messengers of assemblies, Christ's glory.

24 W herefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

Shew therefore to them, before the assemblies, the proof of your love, and of our boasting about you.