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

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on 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 a great trial 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 to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

4 b egging of us with much entreaty the grace and fellowship of the service which to 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 A nd not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.

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

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

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity 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 be 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 advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.

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.

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 be there, accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he has not.

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

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

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

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 to God, who gives the same diligent zeal 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 received indeed the entreaty, but, being full of zeal, he went of his own accord to you;

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

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

And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel 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 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 a voiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance administered by us;

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

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

Providing for honest 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 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 oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have 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 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 hew therefore to them, before the assemblies, the proof of your love, and of our boasting about you.

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