II Corinthians 8

¹And so we are making known to you, brothers, the grace of God that has been given in the churches of Macedonia.

²For within a great experience of tribulation, they have had an abundance of joy, and their profound poverty has only increased the richness of their simplicity.

³And I bear witness to them, that they were willing to accept what was in accord with their ability, and even what was beyond their ability.

⁴For they were begging us, with great exhortation, for the grace and the communication of the ministry that is with the saints.

⁵And this is beyond what we had hoped, since they gave themselves, first of all to the Lord, and then also to us, through the will of God,

⁶so much so that we petitioned Titus, that in the same manner as he had begun, he would also complete in you this same grace.

⁷But, just as in all things you abound in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all solicitude, and even more so in your charity toward us, so also may you abound in this grace.

⁸I am speaking, not commanding. But through the solicitude of others, I approve of the good character of your charity.

⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that through his poverty, you might become rich.

¹⁰And about this, I give my counsel. For this is useful to those of you who, only a year earlier, had just begun to act, or even to be willing to act.

¹¹So, truly now, accomplish this in deed, so that, in the same manner as your willing mind is prompted, you may also act, out of that which you have.

¹²For when the will is prompted, it receives according to what that person has, not according to what that person does not have.

¹³And it is not that others should be relieved, while you are troubled, but that there should be an equality.

¹⁴In this present time, let your abundance supply their need, so that their abundance may also supply your need, in order that there may be an equality, just as it was written:

¹⁵“He with more did not have too much; and he with less did not have too little.”

¹⁶But thanks be to God, who has granted to the heart of Titus, this same solicitude for you.

¹⁷For certainly, he accepted the exhortation. But since he was more solicitous, he went to you of his own free will.

¹⁸And we have even sent with him a brother whose praise accompanies the Gospel throughout all the churches.

¹⁹And not only that, but he was also chosen by the churches to be a companion for our sojourn in this grace, which is ministered by us with our determined will, to the glory of the Lord.

²⁰So let us avoid this, lest anyone disparage us over the abundance that is ministered by us.

²¹For we provide for what is good, not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of men.

²²And we have also sent with them our brother, whom we have proven to be frequently solicitous in many matters. But now there is a greater solicitousness, which is greatly entrusted to you;

²³and whether it concerns Titus, who is a companion to me and a helper to you, or whether it concerns our brothers, the Apostles of the churches, it is to the glory of Christ.

²⁴Therefore, in the sight of the churches, show them the proof of your charity and of our glorying about you.

II Corinthians 8

¹Now we make known unto you, brethren, the grace of God that hath been given in the churches of Macedonia.

²That in much experience of tribulation, they have had abundance of joy and their very deep poverty hath abounded unto the riches of their simplicity.

³For according to their power (I bear them witness) and beyond their power, they were willing:

⁴With much entreaty begging of us the grace and communication of the ministry that is done toward the saints.

⁵And not as we hoped: but they gave their own selves, first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God;

⁶Insomuch, that we desired Titus, that, as he had begun, so also he would finish among you this same grace.

⁷That as in all things you abound in faith and word and knowledge and all carefulness, moreover also in your charity towards us: so in this grace also you may abound.

⁸I speak not as commanding: but by the carefulness of others, approving also the good disposition of your charity.

⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich he became poor for your sakes: that through his poverty you might be rich.

¹⁰And herein I give my advice: for this is profitable for you who have begun not only to do but also to be willing, a year ago.

¹¹Now therefore perform ye it also in deed: that as your mind is forward to be willing, so it may be also to perform, out of that which you have.

¹²For if the will be forward, it is accepted according to that which a man hath: not according to that which he hath not.

¹³For I mean not that others should be eased and you burdened, but by an equality.

¹⁴In this present time let your abundance supply their want, that their abundance also may supply your want: that there may be an equality,

¹⁵As it is written: He that had much had nothing over; and he that had little had no want.

¹⁶And thanks be to God, who hath given the same carefulness for you in the heart of Titus.

¹⁷For indeed he accepted the exhortation: but, being more careful, of his own will he went unto you.

¹⁸We have sent also with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel through all the churches.

¹⁹And not that only: but he was also ordained by the churches companion of our travels, for this grace, which is administered by us, to the glory of the Lord and our determined will:

²⁰Avoiding this, lest any man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us.

²¹For we forecast what may be good, not only before God but also before men.

²²And we have sent with them our brother also, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent: with much confidence in you,

²³Either for Titus, who is my companion and fellow labourer towards you, or our brethren, the apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.

²⁴Wherefore shew ye to them, in the sight of the churches, the evidence of your charity and of our boasting on your behalf.