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

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given 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.

how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

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

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

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

beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to 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.

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

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

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.

But 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.

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

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

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 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.

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.

And 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.

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.

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

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 is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.

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

For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed;

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 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:

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 that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no 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 putteth the same earnest care for you into 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 accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto 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;

And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through 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 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:

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

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

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

for we take thought for things 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 often proved to be of diligent zeal in many things, and now more diligently zealous through the great confidence as to you.

and 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.

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

Whether 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.

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

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