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.

II Corinthians 8

¹Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia;

²how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.

³For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,

⁴beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints:

⁵and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.

⁶Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also.

⁷But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

⁸I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also 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 become rich.

¹⁰And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.

¹¹But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.

¹²For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not.

¹³For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed;

¹⁴but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality:

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

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

¹⁷For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord.

¹⁸And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches;

¹⁹and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness:

²⁰avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us:

²¹for we take thought for things honorable, 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 many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he hath in you.

²³Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward; or our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, they are the glory of Christ.

²⁴Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.