| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: | 1Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to 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. | 2that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. |
| 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, | 3For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, |
| 4imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. | 4begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping 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 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, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. | 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 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. | 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 speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence 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 sakes He became poor, 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 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; | 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, |
| 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. | 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 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 the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. |
| 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; | 13For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. |
| 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. | 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, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who 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 who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. | 16But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you, |
| 17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. | 17because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord. |
| 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 work in spreading the gospel. |
| 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, | 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. |
| 20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— | 20We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering. |
| 21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. | 21For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before 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 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. |
| 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. | 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 to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. | 24Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you. |
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