1 Now we want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia.

Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

2 In the midst of a severe trial brought by affliction, their overflowing joy and their deep poverty overflowed into abundant generosity.

How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

3 For I testify that they gave according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, entirely on their own.

For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

4 They urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.

Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

5 And they exceeded our expectations: they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier begun, to complete this act of grace among you as well.

Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Therefore, 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.

8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that through His poverty you might become rich.

For 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.

10 And here is my opinion in this matter: It is best for you, since you not only started to do this last year but also had the desire to do so.

And 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.

11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.

Now 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.

12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13 Our desire is not for others to be relieved while you are burdened, but for equality.

For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

14 At the present time, your abundance should meet their need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need—so that there may be equality.

But 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:

15 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.'

As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

16 Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you.

But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

17 For Titus not only accepted our appeal, but he is coming to you with great eagerness and on his own initiative.

For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel.

And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

19 Not only that, but he was also chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry out this act of grace, which is being administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.

And 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:

20 We are taking this precaution so that no one will criticize us regarding this generous gift we are administering.

Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

21 For we are taking every precaution to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of people.

Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

22 We are also sending with them our brother, who has often proved diligent in many matters and is now even more so because of his great confidence in you.

And 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.

23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

24 Therefore, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.