2 Corinthians 8:1-18
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 8
1Now, brothers and sisters, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave voluntarily, 4begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 5and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. 6So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
7But just as you excel in everything, in faith, speaking, knowledge, and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you also excel in this gracious work.
8I am not saying this as a command, but as proving, through the earnestness of others, the sincerity of your love as well.
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
10I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
11But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the willingness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
12For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13For this is not for the relief of others and for your hardship, but by way of equality—
14at this present time your abundance will serve as assistance for their need, so that their abundance also may serve as assistance for your need, so that there may be equality;
15as it is written: 'THE ONE WHO had gathered much did not have too much, AND THE ONE WHO had gathered little did not have too little.'
16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of Titus.
17For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.
18We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches;
King James Version
Chapter 8
1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
6Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7Therefore, 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.
8I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9For 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.
10And 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.
11Now 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.
12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14But 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:
15As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 8
1We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia: 2During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, 4they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, 5and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will. 6So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace.
7Now as you excel in everything—in faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us —excel also in this act of grace.
8I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
10And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it.
11Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have.
12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality.
14At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need, in order that there may be equality.
15As it is written: The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little.
New Living Translation
Chapter 8
1Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.
4They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
5They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.
6So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.
7Since you excel in so many ways — in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us — I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.
10Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it.
11Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.
12Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
13Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.
14Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need. Later, they will have plenty and can share with you when you need it. In this way, things will be equal.
English Standard Version
Chapter 8
1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints — 5and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7But as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you — see that you excel in this act of grace also.
8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
10And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it.
11So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.
12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness
14your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness.
15As it is written, "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."
16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.
17For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord.
18With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
New International Version
Chapter 8
1And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
10And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality,
15as it is written: "The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little."
16Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.
17For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.
18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.
New King James Version
Chapter 8
1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, 4imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. 6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. 7But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us— see that you abound in this grace also.
8I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.
9For 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.
10And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;
11but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.
12For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;
14but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.
15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
