1 W e want to tell you further, brethren, about the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia;

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

2 F or in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty have overflowed in wealth of lavish generosity on their part.

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

3 F or, as I can bear witness, according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and voluntarily,

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

4 B egging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for the saints.

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

5 N or that we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God '> entirely disregarding their personal interests, they gave as much as they possibly could, having put themselves at our disposal to be directed by the will of God]—

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

6 S o much so that we have urged Titus that as he began it, he should also complete this beneficent and gracious contribution among you.

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

7 N ow as you abound and excel and are at the front in everything—in faith, in expressing yourselves, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us— abound and excel in this gracious work also.

Therefore, 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.

8 I give this not as an order, but to prove, by the zeal of others, the sincerity of your love also.

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

9 F or you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).

For 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.

10 m y counsel and my opinion in this matter that I give: It is profitable and fitting for you which more than a year ago you not only began, but were the first to wish to do anything.

And 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.

11 S o now finish doing it, that your readiness in desiring it may be equalled by your completion of it according to your ability and means.

Now 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.

12 F or if the readiness to give is there, then it is acceptable and welcomed in proportion to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

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

13 F or it is not that other people be eased and relieved and you be burdened and suffer,

For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14 B ut to have equality, your surplus over necessity at the present time going to meet their want and to equalize the difference created by it, so that their surplus in turn may be given to supply your want. Thus there may be equality,

But 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:

15 A s it is written, He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little did not lack.

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

16 B ut thanks be to God Who planted the same earnest zeal and care for you in the heart of Titus.

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

17 F or he not only welcomed and responded to our appeal, but was himself so keen in his enthusiasm and interest in you that he is going to you of his own accord.

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

18 B ut we are sending along with him that brother whose praise in the Gospel ministry throughout all the churches;

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

19 A nd more than that, he has been appointed by the churches to travel as our companion in regard to this bountiful contribution which we are administering for the glory of the Lord Himself and our eager readiness.

And 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:

20 w e are on our guard, intending that no one should find anything for which to blame us in regard to our administration of this large contribution.

Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

21 F or we take thought beforehand and aim to be honest and absolutely above suspicion, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.

Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 M oreover, along with them we are sending our brother, whom we have often put to the test and have found him zealous (devoted and earnest) in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of absolute confidence in you.

And 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.

23 A s for Titus, he is my colleague and shares my work in your service; and as for the brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, a credit and glory to Christ (the Messiah).

Whether 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.

24 S how to these men, therefore, in the sight of the churches, the reality and plain truth of your love (your affection, goodwill, and benevolence) and what I had for boasting about and being proud of you.

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