| New International Version | NET Bible |
| 1And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. | 1Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, |
| 2In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. | 2that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. |
| 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, | 3For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, |
| 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people. | 4begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints. |
| 5And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. | 5And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God. |
| 6So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. | 6Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you. |
| 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. | 7But as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, and in all eagerness and in the love from us that is in you--make sure that you excel in this act of kindness too. |
| 8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. | 8I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness 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. | 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could 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. | 10So here is my opinion on this matter: It is to your advantage, since you made a good start last year both in your giving and your desire to give, |
| 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. | 11to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete 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. | 12For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. |
| 13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. | 13For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of 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, | 14At the present time, your abundance will meet their need, so that one day their abundance may also meet your need, and thus there may be 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." | 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. | 16But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion 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. | 17because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord. |
| 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. | 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel. |
| 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. | 19In addition, this brother has also been chosen by the churches as our traveling companion as we administer this generous gift to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness to help. |
| 20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. | 20We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering. |
| 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. | 21For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men. |
| 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. | 22And we are sending with them our brother whom we have tested many times and found eager in many matters, but who now is much more eager than ever because of the great confidence he has in you. |
| 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. | 23If there is any question about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; if there is any question about our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ. |
| 24Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it. | 24Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you. |
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