1 M oreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia;

¶ Likewise, brethren, we make known unto you the grace of God bestowed on the congregations of Macedonia,

2 h ow that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.

how that in a great trial of tribulation the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3 F or according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

For to their power, I bear record, and even beyond their power they were willing of themselves,

4 b egging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.

praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the grace and take upon us the fellowship of the ministry to the saints.

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

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord and then unto us by the will of God.

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

Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete among you the same grace also.

7 B ut 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.

¶ Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all diligence and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

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 as commanding, but by occasion of the diligence of others and to prove the sincerity of your charity.

9 F or 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.

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 enriched.

10 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.

And in this I give my advice, for this is expedient for you, who began not only to do, but also to be diligent a year ago.

11 B ut 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.

Now therefore finish the doing of it that as there was a readiness to will, so there may also be a performance out of that which ye have.

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

For if there is first a willing desire, it is accepted according to what a person has and not according to what they do not have.

13 F or this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

For I mean not that others be eased and ye burdened,

14 b ut 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.

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 s it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

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 be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

¶ But thanks be to God, who put the same diligence into the heart of Titus for you.

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

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

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

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

19 N ot 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.

and not that only, but who was also ordained by the congregations to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord and declaration of your ready desire,

20 W e are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.

avoiding that anyone should blame us regarding this abundance which is ministered by us,

21 H aving regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 W e 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.

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 we have in you.

23 A s 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.

Regarding Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you; or regarding our brethren, they are the apostles of the congregations and the glory of Christ.

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

Therefore show ye unto them before the congregations, the proof of your charity and of our glorying regarding you.