1 A nd we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God, that hath been given 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 b ecause in much trial of tribulation the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, did abound 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 b ecause, according to power, I testify, and above power, they were willing of themselves,

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

4 w ith much entreaty calling on us to receive the favour and the fellowship of the ministration 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 expected, but themselves they did give first to the Lord, and to us, through the will of God,

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 exhorted Titus, that, according as he did begin before, so also he may finish to you also this favour,

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 in every thing ye do abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this grace ye may abound;

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 n ot according to command do I speak, but because of the diligence of others, and of your love proving the genuineness,

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 because of you he became poor -- being rich, that ye by that poverty may 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 become rich.

10 a nd an opinion in this do I give: for this to you expedient, who not only to do, but also to will, did begin before -- 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 a nd now also finish doing, that even as the readiness of the will, so also the finishing, out of that which 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 willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath 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 that for others release, and ye pressured,

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

14 b ut by equality, at the present time your abundance -- for their want, that also their abundance may be for your want, that there may 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 hath been written, `He who much, had nothing over; and he who little, had no lack.'

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

16 A nd thanks to God, who is putting the same diligence 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 b ecause indeed the exhortation he accepted, and being more diligent, of his own accord he went forth unto you,

For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.

18 a nd we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the good news 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 so, but who was also appointed by vote by the assemblies, our fellow-traveller, with this favour that is ministered by us, unto the glory of the same Lord, and your willing mind;

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, lest any one may blame us in this abundance that is ministered by us,

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

21 p roviding right things, not only before the 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 sent with them our brother, whom we proved in many things many times being diligent, and now much more diligent, by the great confidence that is toward 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 -- about Titus -- my partner and towards you fellow-worker, whether -- our brethren, apostles of assemblies -- glory of Christ;

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 t he shewing therefore of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf, to them shew ye, even in the face of the assemblies.

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