2 Corinthians

8 Moreover we make known unto you, brethren, The favour of God which hath been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,—

2 That in a great testing of tribulation The superabounding of their joy and their deep destitution Superabounded unto the riches of their liberality;

3 That according to power, I bear witness, and beyond power Of their own accord [they acted],—

4 With much exhortation entreating of us the favour and the fellowship of the ministry which was for the saints;—

5 And not merely as we hoped But themselves gave they first unto the Lord and unto us through God’s will,

6 To the end we should exhort Titus in order that According as he before made a beginning So he should also complete unto you this favour also.

7 But just as in everything ye superabound,—In faith and discourse and knowledge and all earnestness, and in the love among you which proceedeth from us In order that in this favour also ye would superabound.

8 Not by way of injunction do I speak, But through others’ earnestness And the genuineness of your own love putting to the test.

9 For ye are taking knowledge of the favour of our Lord Jesus [Christ],—How that for your sakes he became destitute—although he was rich, In order that ye by his destitution might be enriched.

10 And a judgment herein do I give,—For this unto you is profitable,—Who indeed not only of the doing but of the desiring made for yourselves a beginning a year ago;—

11 Howbeit now the doing also complete ye, In order that even according to the forwardness of the desiring So may be the completing—out of what ye have.

12 For if the forwardness is set forth According to what one may have he is well approved, Not according to what one hath not.

13 For not that unto others should be relief and unto you distress [do I speak], But by equality In the present season your surplus for their deficiency,—

14 In order that their surplus may come to be for your deficiency: That there may come about an equality:—

15 Even as it is written—He that [gathered] the much had not more than enough, And he that [gathered] the little had not less.

16 Thanks however unto God!—Who is putting the same earnestness in your behalf in the heart of Titus,

17 In that though indeed the exhortation he welcomed Yet already being greatly in earnest, of his own accord hath he gone forth unto you.

18 Howbeit we also set forward with him the brother whose praise in the Glad Tidings [hath gone] through all the assemblies:—

19 Not only so however but he hath also been appointed by the assemblies as a fellow-traveller with us in this favour which is being ministered by us with a view to the Lord’s glory and our earnest desire:—

20 Arranging this—lest anyone upon us should cast blame in this munificence which is being ministered by us;

21 For we provide things honourable, not only before [the] Lord but also before men.

22 Moreover we have set forward with them our brother whom we have proved in many things ofttimes earnest,—But now much more earnest by reason of the great confidence [which he hath] towards you.

23 Whether as regardeth Titus He is a partner of mine, and towards you a fellow-worker. Or our brethren Apostles of assemblies and Christ’s glory.

24 The proof of your love therefore and of our boasting in your behalf Shew ye unto them in the face of the assemblies.