| King James Bible | New International Version |
| 1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; | 1And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. |
| 2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. | 2In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. |
| 3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; | 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, |
| 4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. | 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. |
| 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. | 5And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. |
| 6Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. | 6So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. |
| 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. | 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 speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. | 8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 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. | 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 there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. | 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have. |
| 13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: | 13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. |
| 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: | 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, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. | 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." |
| 16But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. | 16Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. |
| 17For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. | 17For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. |
| 18And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; | 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. |
| 19And 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: | 19What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. |
| 20Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: | 20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. |
| 21Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. | 21For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. |
| 22And 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. | 22In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. |
| 23Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. | 23As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. |
| 24Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. | 24Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. |
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