The giving of Macedonia
Now brothers, we want you to know about the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia. In a heavy test of trouble, their overflowing joy and their deep poverty together overflowed into rich generosity. Because I can vouch for it: they gave what they could afford, and beyond what they could afford, and they did it of their own accord. They begged us hard for the favour of having a share in this service to the saints. And they went beyond what we hoped. First they gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us, by the will of God. So we urged Titus, since he had made a start, to see this act of grace through with you as well. So then, just as you do well in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us — see that you do well in this act of grace too. I am not ordering you. I am testing how genuine your love is against the earnestness of others. Because you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: though he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich. And here is my advice on the matter, because it is what suits you. A year ago you were the first not only to act but to want to act. So finish the job now, so that your readiness to want it is matched by finishing it out of what you have. Because if the willingness is there, a gift is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he hasn't. I don't mean that others should have relief while you are under pressure, but that there should be a fair balance. At this time your plenty supplies what they lack, so that their plenty may supply what you lack. That way there is a fair balance, as it is written: The one who gathered much had nothing over, and the one who gathered little had no lack.
What's more, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God given in the churches of Macedonia. How that in a great test of trouble the plenty of their joy and their deep poverty flowed over to the riches of their generosity. Because to their power, I bear record, yes, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves. Begging us a lot that we'd take the gift and take on us the fellowship of the serving of the holy ones. And this they did, not the way we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. So we pushed Titus, that as he'd started, that's how he'd finish this same grace in you too. So as you're plentiful in everything — in faith and speech and knowledge and in all care and in your love to us — see that you're plentiful in this grace too. I don't speak by order but because of the care of others, and to prove how true your love is. Because you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, still for your sakes he turned poor, so you through his poverty could be rich. And in this I give my judgment. Because this is good for you, who've started before, not only to do but to be willing a year ago. Now so finish doing it too, so that as there was a readiness to want it, that's how there can be a finishing too out of what you've got. Because if there's first a willing mind, it's accepted according to what a man has, and not according to what he hasn't got. Because I don't mean that other men should be eased and you loaded down. But by an equalness, that now at this time your plenty can be a supply for their want, so their plenty too can be a supply for your want, so there can be equalness. As it's written: The one who'd gathered plenty had nothing over, and the one who'd gathered little had no lack.
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 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. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same 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. I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 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. 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. 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. 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. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 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: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
Now brothers, we want you to know about the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia.
What's more, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God given in the churches of Macedonia.
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
In a heavy test of trouble, their overflowing joy and their deep poverty together overflowed into rich generosity.
How that in a great test of trouble the plenty of their joy and their deep poverty flowed over to the riches of their generosity.
How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
Because I can vouch for it: they gave what they could afford, and beyond what they could afford, and they did it of their own accord.
Because to their power, I bear record, yes, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves.
For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
They begged us hard for the favour of having a share in this service to the saints.
Begging us a lot that we'd take the gift and take on us the fellowship of the serving of the holy ones.
Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
And they went beyond what we hoped. First they gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us, by the will of God.
And this they did, not the way we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
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.
So we urged Titus, since he had made a start, to see this act of grace through with you as well.
So we pushed Titus, that as he'd started, that's how he'd finish this same grace in you too.
Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
So then, just as you do well in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in your love for us — see that you do well in this act of grace too.
So as you're plentiful in everything — in faith and speech and knowledge and in all care and in your love to us — see that you're plentiful in this grace too.
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.
I am not ordering you. I am testing how genuine your love is against the earnestness of others.
I don't speak by order but because of the care of others, and to prove how true your love is.
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
Because you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: though he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich.
Because you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, still for your sakes he turned poor, so you through his poverty could be 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 rich.
And here is my advice on the matter, because it is what suits you. A year ago you were the first not only to act but to want to act.
And in this I give my judgment. Because this is good for you, who've started before, not only to do but 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.
So finish the job now, so that your readiness to want it is matched by finishing it out of what you have.
Now so finish doing it too, so that as there was a readiness to want it, that's how there can be a finishing too out of what you've got.
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.
Because if the willingness is there, a gift is acceptable according to what a man has, not according to what he hasn't.
Because if there's first a willing mind, it's accepted according to what a man has, and not according to what he hasn't got.
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.
I don't mean that others should have relief while you are under pressure, but that there should be a fair balance.
Because I don't mean that other men should be eased and you loaded down.
For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
At this time your plenty supplies what they lack, so that their plenty may supply what you lack. That way there is a fair balance,
But by an equalness, that now at this time your plenty can be a supply for their want, so their plenty too can be a supply for your want, so there can be equalness.
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:
as it is written: The one who gathered much had nothing over, and the one who gathered little had no lack.
As it's written: The one who'd gathered plenty had nothing over, and the one who'd 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.
Titus sent
Thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. Because he took our request seriously — and being all the more earnest himself, he went off to you of his own accord. And we have sent along with him the brother whose praise in the gospel has gone through all the churches. And more than that, he was chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which we are handling for the glory of the Lord himself and to show your readiness. We are taking care that nobody can find fault with us over this generous amount we are handling. Because we are careful to do what is right, not only before the LORD but also before people. And we have sent our brother with them, whom we have often tested and found earnest in many things — and now more earnest still, because of the great confidence I have in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. So show them the proof of your love, and of our boasting about you, in front of the churches.
But thanks be to God, who put the same strong care into the heart of Titus for you. Because truly he took the pushing on. But being more strongly set on it, of his own will he went to you. And we've sent with him the brother whose praise is in the good news through all the churches. And not only that, but who was chosen too by the churches to travel with us with this gift, that's served by us to the glory of the same Lord and showing your ready mind. Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this plenty that's served by us. Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord but in the sight of men too. And we've sent with them our brother, who we've often proved often in plenty of things to be careful, but now much more careful, on the great confidence I've got in you. Whether any ask about Titus, he's my partner and fellow helper about you. Or our brothers be asked about, they're the messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ. So show them, and in front of the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 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: Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 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. 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. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Thanks be to God, who put the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
But thanks be to God, who put the same strong care into the heart of Titus for you.
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
Because he took our request seriously — and being all the more earnest himself, he went off to you of his own accord.
Because truly he took the pushing on. But being more strongly set on it, of his own will he went to you.
For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
And we have sent along with him the brother whose praise in the gospel has gone through all the churches.
And we've sent with him the brother whose praise is in the good news through all the churches.
And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
And more than that, he was chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which we are handling for the glory of the Lord himself and to show your readiness.
And not only that, but who was chosen too by the churches to travel with us with this gift, that's served by us to the glory of the same Lord and showing your ready mind.
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:
We are taking care that nobody can find fault with us over this generous amount we are handling.
Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this plenty that's served by us.
Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
Because we are careful to do what is right, not only before the LORD but also before people.
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord but in the sight of men too.
Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
And we have sent our brother with them, whom we have often tested and found earnest in many things — and now more earnest still, because of the great confidence I have in you.
And we've sent with them our brother, who we've often proved often in plenty of things to be careful, but now much more careful, on the great confidence I've got 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 I have in you.
As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
Whether any ask about Titus, he's my partner and fellow helper about you. Or our brothers be asked about, they're the messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ.
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.
So show them the proof of your love, and of our boasting about you, in front of the churches.
So show them, and in front of the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.
Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.