| New King James Version | King James Bible |
| 1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: | 1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of 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. | 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 I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, | 3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; |
| 4imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. | 4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us 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. | 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. |
| 6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. | 6Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. |
| 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. | 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 I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. | 8I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. |
| 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. | 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 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; | 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. |
| 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. | 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 is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not 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 do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; | 13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye 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. | 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 who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” | 15As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. |
| 16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. | 16But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. |
| 17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. | 17For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. |
| 18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, | 18And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; |
| 19and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, | 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: |
| 20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— | 20Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: |
| 21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. | 21Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. |
| 22And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. | 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. |
| 23If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. | 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. |
| 24Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. | 24Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. |
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