2 Corinthians 8 Parallel Bible Translations

2 Corinthians 8 ▼
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1 MOREOVER, our brethren, we want you to know that the grace of God has been bestowed on the churches of Mac-e-do’ni-a : We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches.
2 How that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep rooted poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
3 For to their power, I can testify, yes, and beyond their power they have shared of their own accord. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,
4 And besought us most earnestly that they might be partakers in the gift for the ministration to the saints. begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people.
5 And this they did, not only as we expected, but first they gave themselves to our LORD, and then to us by the will of God. and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
6 Insomuch as we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish this same gift among you. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.
7 Therefore, as you abound in every thing, in faith, in the word of God, in knowledge, in all perseverance, and by our love toward you, you should likewise excel in this gracious favor also. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. But 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.
8 I am not making a demand on you, but I am prompted by the devotion of your fellow believers to test the sincerity of your love. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
9 For you know the gracious gift of our LORD Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might be rich. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. For 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.
10 Herein I give you my advice: that it may help you to go forward and accomplish what you, of your own accord, began to do last year. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. And 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.
11 Now therefore perform the doing of that which you wished to do; and as you were eager to promise it, so fulfil from that which you have. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
12 For if there is a willingness to give, every man can give according to that which he has, and not according to that which he has not, and his gift will be acceptable. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
13 This is not intended to relieve other men and add a burden to you; For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
14 But that there may be an equality at this particular time, that 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. your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. At 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,
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
16 But thanks be to God, who put the same vigorous care into the heart of Titus for you. But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.
17 For indeed he has accepted our appeal; and because he was very desirous, he went to you of his own accord. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.
18 And we have also sent with him our brother, who has received praise throughout all the churches for his preaching of the gospel; With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel.
19 So that he also has been chosen by the churches to travel with us for this relief which is administered by us to the very glory of God and for our own encouragement: And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. What 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.
20 But we are careful in this, lest any one should blame us in connection with this generous help which is administered by us. We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.
21 For we are very careful to do the right thing, not only in the presence of God, but also in the presence of men. for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.
22 And we have sent with them also our brother, who has oftentimes been proven by us in many things, that he is earnest, and now is more earnest because of the abundant trust he has in you. And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. In 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.
23 And as to Titus, he is my partner and helper among you: and as to our other brethren, they are the apostles of the churches to the glory of Christ. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. As 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.
24 Henceforth you can shew to them before all the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you. So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. Therefore 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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