1 Now, brothers, I have to tell you about the grace God has given to the churches of Macedonia.
1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been (A)given in the churches of (B)Macedonia,
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
1 We want you to know, brothers, about God's grace that was given to the churches of Macedonia.
2 Amid a severe ordeal of trouble, their overflowing joy and their deep poverty together have poured out a flood of rich generosity;
2 that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the (C)wealth of their liberality.
2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
2 During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity.(C)
2 In spite of their terrible ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and deep poverty have led them to be abundantly generous.
3 I can testify that up to their means, aye and beyond their means, they have given ??4 begging me of their own accord, most urgently, for the favour of contributing to the support of the saints.
3 For I testify that (D)according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
3 I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability,
3 I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability.
4 They have done more than I expected; they gave themselves to the Lord, to begin with, and then (for so God willed it) they put themselves at my disposal.
4 begging us with much urging for the (E)favor (a)of participation in the (b)(F)support of the (c)saints,
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
4 They begged us earnestly for the privilege of participating in this ministry to the saints.
5 This has led me to ask Titus to complete the arrangements for the same gracious contribution among yourselves, as it was he who started it.
5 and this, not as we had (d)expected, but they first (G)gave themselves to the Lord and to us by (H)the will of God.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
5 and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God’s will.(E)
5 We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was God's will.
6 Now then, you are to the front in everything, in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in love for us ??do come to the front in this gracious enterprise as well.
6 So we (I)urged (J)Titus that as he had previously (K)made a beginning, so he would also complete in you (L)this gracious work as well.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
6 So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you.
6 So we urged Titus to finish this work of kindness among you in the same way that he had started it.
7 I am not issuing any orders, only using the zeal of others to prove how sterling your own love is.
7 But just as you (M)abound (N)in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the (e)love we inspired in you, see that you (O)abound in this gracious work also.
7 Therefore, 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.
7 Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge,(F) and in all diligence, and in your love for us(a)—excel also in this grace.
7 Indeed, the more your faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love for us increase, the more we want you to be rich in this work of kindness.
8 (You know how gracious our Lord Jesus Christ was; rich though he was, he became poor for the sake of you, that by his poverty you might be rich.)
8 I (P)am not speaking this as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
8 I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love.
8 I am not commanding you but testing the genuineness of your love by the enthusiasm of others.
9 But I will tell you what I think about it; it is to your interest to go on with this enterprise, for you started it last year, you were the first not merely to do anything but to want to do anything.
9 For you know (Q)the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that (R)though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
9 For 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.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich,(G) for your sake He became poor,(H) so that by His poverty you might become rich.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah. Although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, might become rich.
10 Now, carry it through, so that your readiness to take it up may be equalled by the way you carry it through ??so far as your means allow.
10 I (S)give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin (T)a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
10 And 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.
10 Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it.(b)(I)
10 I am giving you my opinion on this matter because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing to do something, but had already started to do it.
11 If only one is ready to give, according to his means, it is acceptable; he is not asked to give what he has not got.
11 But now finish (f)doing it also, so that just as there was the (U)readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
11 Now 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.
11 But now finish the task(c) as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have.
11 Now finish what you began, so that your eagerness to do so may be matched by your eagerness to complete it.
12 This does not mean that other people are to be relieved and you to suffer:
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable (V)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
12 For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.(J)
12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.
13 it is a matter of give and take; at the present moment your surplus goes to make up what they lack, in order that their surplus may go to make up what you lack.
13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—
13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
13 It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality(d)—
13 Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness.
14 Thus it is to give and take ??as it is written, He who got much had nothing over, and he who got little had not too little.
14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for (W)their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for (X)your need, that there may be equality;
14 But 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:
14 at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality.
14 At the present time, your surplus fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair.
15 Thanks be to God who has inspired Titus with an interest in you equal to my own;
15 as it is written, “(Y)He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
15 As it has been written:The person who gathered muchdid not have too much,and the person who gathered littledid not have too little.(K)(e)
15 As it is written, "The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little."
16 he has indeed responded to my request, but he is off to you by his own choice, so keen is his interest in you.
16 But (Z)thanks be to God who (AA)puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of (AB)Titus.
16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
16 Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus.
16 But thanks be to God, who placed in the heart of Titus the same dedication to you that I have.
17 Along with him I am sending that brother whose services to the gospel are praised by all the churches;
17 For he not only accepted our (AC)appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
17 For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice.
17 He welcomed my request and eagerly went to visit you by his own free will.
18 besides, he has been appointed by the churches to travel with me on the business of administering this fund to the glory of the Lord. His appointment has my full consent,
18 We have sent along with him (AD)the brother whose fame in the things of the (AE)gospel has spread through (AF)all the churches;
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
18 We have sent with him the brother(L) who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry.(f)
18 With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for spreading the gospel.
19 for I want to take precautions against any risk of suspicion in connection with the administration of this charity;
19 (AG)and not only this, but he has also been (AH)appointed by the churches to travel with us in (AI)this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our (AJ)readiness,
19 And 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:
19 And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift(g) that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help.
19 More than that, he has also been selected by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this work of kindness for the glory of the Lord and as evidence of our eagerness to help.
20 I aim at being above reproach not only from God but also from men.
20 (g)taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift;
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
20 We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us.
20 We are trying to avoid any criticism of the way we are administering this great undertaking.
21 Along with them I am also sending our brother: I have had ample proof of his keen interest on many occasions, and it is specially keen on this occasion, as he has absolute confidence in you.
21 for we (AK)have regard for what is honorable, not only in (AL)the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
21 For we are making provision(M) for what is right,(N) not only before the Lord but also before men.
21 We intend to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of people.
22 Titus is my colleague, he shares my work for you, and these brothers of mine are apostles of the church, a credit to Christ.
22 We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
22 And 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.
22 We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent—and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you.
22 We have also sent with them our brother whom we have often tested in many ways and found to be dedicated. At present he is more dedicated than ever because he has so much confidence in you.
23 So let them have proof of how you can love, and of my reasons for being proud of you; it will be a proof read by the churches.
23 As for (AM)Titus, he is my (AN)partner and fellow worker (h)among you; as for our (AO)brethren, they are (i)(AP)messengers of the churches, (AQ)a glory to Christ.
23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner(O) and coworker(P) serving you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers(Q) of the churches, the glory of Christ.(R)
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker on your behalf. Our brothers, emissaries from the churches, are bringing glory to the Messiah.
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