1 M oreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

2 h ow that in much proof 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 abounded in the riches of their liberality.

3 F or according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,

4 b eseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:

imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5 a nd this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

6 I nsomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.

So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.

7 B ut as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us— see that you abound in this grace also. Christ Our Pattern

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

I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

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 become rich.

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 A nd herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.

And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;

11 B ut now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

12 F or if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

13 F or I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed;

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

14 b ut by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:

but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.

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

As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” Collection for the Judean Saints

16 B ut thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into 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 accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.

For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.

18 A nd we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches;

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

19 a nd not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness:

and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind,

20 A voiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us:

avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—

21 f or we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

providing honorable things, 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 many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he hath in you.

And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you.

23 W hether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward, or our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, they are the glory of Christ.

If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

24 S how ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.

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