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

We 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;

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

For 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.

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

For, as I can bear witness, according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and voluntarily,

4 b egging of us with much entreaty the grace and fellowship of the service which to the saints.

Begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for the saints.

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

Nor 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]—

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

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

7 b ut 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.

Now 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.

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

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

9 F or 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.

For 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).

10 A nd 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.

my 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.

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

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

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

For 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.

13 F or not in order that there may be ease for others, and for you distress,

For it is not that other people be eased and relieved and you be burdened and suffer,

14 b ut 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.

But 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,

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

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

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

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

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

For 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.

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

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

19 a nd 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;

And 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.

20 a voiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance administered by us;

we 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.

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

For 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.

22 A nd 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.

Moreover, 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.

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

As 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).

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

Show 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.