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

Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches 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 ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.

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

For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave 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 us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of 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 this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

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

So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.

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 just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.

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

I am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.

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 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.

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.

I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.

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 finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.

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 is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

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

For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—

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:

at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may 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.

as it is written, “ He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

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

But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf 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 not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.

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

We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches;

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 this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness,

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

taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift;

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

for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of 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.

We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in 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.

As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.

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

Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.