| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, | 1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, |
| 2that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. | 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. |
| 3For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, | 3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, |
| 4begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints. | 4begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— |
| 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. | 5and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. |
| 6Thus we urged Titus that, just as he had previously begun this work, so also he should complete this act of kindness for you. | 6Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. |
| 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. | 7But 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. |
| 8I am not saying this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love by comparison with the eagerness of others. | 8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. |
| 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. | 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 by his poverty might become rich. |
| 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, | 10And 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. |
| 11to finish what you started, so that just as you wanted to do it eagerly, you can also complete it according to your means. | 11So 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. |
| 12For if the eagerness is present, the gift itself is acceptable according to whatever one has, not according to what he does not have. | 12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. |
| 13For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality. | 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness |
| 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, | 14your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. |
| 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, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” |
| 16But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you, | 16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. |
| 17because he not only accepted our request, but since he was very eager, he is coming to you of his own accord. | 17For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. |
| 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in spreading the gospel. | 18With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. |
| 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. | 19And 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. |
| 20We did this as a precaution so that no one should blame us in regard to this generous gift we are administering. | 20We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, |
| 21For we are concerned about what is right not only before the Lord but also before men. | 21for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. |
| 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. | 22And 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. |
| 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. | 23As 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. |
| 24Therefore show them openly before the churches the proof of your love and of our pride in you. | 24So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. |
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