1 And we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God which has been bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia;
2 that, in much trial of tribulation, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.
3 For, according to their power, I bear witness, and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord;
4 beseeching us with much entreaty as to the grace and the participation in the ministering to the saints;
5 and they did this not as we hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God;
6 so that we exhorted Titus that, as he began before, so also he would finish in you this same grace also.
7 But, as ye abound in everything??n faith, and speech, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us??ee that ye abound in this grace also.
8 I am not speaking by way of command; but as proving, through the diligence of others, the sincerity of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might become rich.
10 And I give my judgment in this; for this is profitable for you, who, indeed, began before others, a year ago, not only to do, but also to will.
11 And now complete the doing also; that, as there was a readiness to will, so also there may be the completion out of what ye have;
12 for, if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he has not.
13 For it is not that there may be relief to others, but distress to you;
14 but, by the rule of equality, your abundance being a supply, at the present time, for their deficiency; that also their abundance may be a supply for your want, that there may be equality:
15 as it has been written, "He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack."
16 But thanks be to God Who putteth the same diligence for you into the heart of Titus.
17 For he accepted, indeed, our exhortation; but, being very earnest, he went forth to you of his own accord.
18 And we sent with him the brother whose praise in the Gospel is in all the assemblies;
19 and not that only, but who was also appointed by the assemblies, as our fellow-traveler with this gift which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and our zeal;
20 avoiding this, that no one should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us;
21 for we provide things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22 And we sent with them our brother, whom we often in many things proved to be diligent, but now much more diligent by reason of his great confidence in you.
23 Whether any one inquires about Titus, he is my partner, and my fellow-worker in your behalf; or our brethren, they are the messengers of the assemblies, the glory of Christ.
24 Show ye, therefore, toward them, before the assemblies, the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.