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, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies 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 much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to 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 according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

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

begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service 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]—

This was not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through 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.

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

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.

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

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

I give a judgment in this: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing.

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.

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

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

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

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 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 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 who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who 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, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

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

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

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

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.

Not only so, but who 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 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.

We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning 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.

Having regard for honorable 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.

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 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).

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 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.

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