II Corinthians 8

¹We doe you also to wit, brethren, of the grace of God bestowed vpon the Churches of Macedonia,

²Because in great triall of affliction their ioy abounded, and their most extreme pouertie abounded vnto their rich liberalitie.

³For to their power (I beare record) yea, and beyonde their power, they were willing,

⁴And praied vs with great instance that we woulde receiue the grace, and fellowship of the ministring which is toward the Saints.

⁵And this they did, not as we looked for: but gaue their owne selues, first to the Lord, and after vnto vs by the will of God,

⁶That we should exhort Titus, that as hee had begon, so he would also accomplish the same grace among you also.

⁷Therefore, as yee abound in euery thing, in faith and woorde, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your loue towardes vs, euen so see that yee abound in this grace also.

⁸This say I not by commandement, but because of the diligence of others: therefore prooue I the naturalnesse of your loue.

⁹For ye knowe the grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, that hee being rich, for your sakes became poore, that yee through his pouertie might be made rich.

¹⁰And I shewe my minde herein: for this is expedient for you, which haue begun not to doe onely, but also to will, a yeare agoe.

¹¹Nowe therefore performe to doe it also, that as there was a readinesse to will, euen so yee may performe it of that which yee haue.

¹²For if there be first a willing minde, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

¹³Neither is it that other men should be eased and you grieued: But vpon like condition, at this time your abundance supplieth their lacke:

¹⁴That also their aboundance may bee for your lacke, that there may be equalitie:

¹⁵As it is written, Hee that gathered much, had nothing ouer, and hee that gathered litle, had not the lesse.

¹⁶And thanks be vnto God, which hath put in the heart of Titus the same care for you.

¹⁷Because hee accepted the exhortation, yea, hee was so carefull that of his owne accorde hee went vnto you.

¹⁸And wee haue sent also with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel throughout al the Churches.

¹⁹(And not so onely, but is also chosen of the Churches to be a fellowe in our iourney, concerning this grace that is ministred by vs vnto the glorie of the same Lord, and declaration of your prompt minde)

²⁰Auoiding this, that no man shoulde blame vs in this aboundance that is ministred by vs,

²¹Prouiding for honest thinges, not onely before the Lord, but also before men.

²²And we haue sent with them our brother, whom we haue oft times prooued to be diligent in many thinges, but nowe much more diligent, for the great confidence, which I haue in you.

²³Whether any doe inquire of Titus, he is my fellowe and helper to you ward: or of our brethren, they are messengers of the Churches, and the glorie of Christ.

²⁴Wherefore shew toward them, and before the Churches the proofe of your loue, and of the reioycing that we haue of you.

II Corinthians 8

¹Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

²How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

³For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

⁴Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

⁵And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

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

⁷Therefore, 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.

⁸I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.

⁹For 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.

¹⁰And 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.

¹¹Now 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.

¹²For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

¹³For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

¹⁴But 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:

¹⁵As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

¹⁶But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

¹⁷For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

¹⁸And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;

¹⁹And 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:

²⁰Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

²¹Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

²²And 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.

²³Whether 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.

²⁴Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.