For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Moreover, brethren, we declare to you the grace of God, bestowed on the churches in Macedonia,

And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun a year ago, not only to do, but also to do it willingly.

Now therefore compleat the work, that as there was a ready will, so there may be also a performance, in proportion to what ye have.

For if there be first a ready mind, a man is accepted, according to what he hath, not according to what he hath not.

But thanks be to God, who put the same diligent care for you in the heart of Titus.

For I do not mean, that others should be eased, and you burthened; But by an equality,

As it is written, He that had gathered the most, had nothing over; and he that had gathered the least, did not lack.

let your abundance be at this time a supply to their want; that their abundance also may be a supply to your want, that there may be an equality,

And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is through all the churches: (And not only so,

And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, through his great confidence in you.

but he was also appointed by the churches to be a fellow-traveller with us, with this gift, which is administred by us, to the glory of the Lord himself,

Shew therefore to them before the churches the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.

and for the declaration of our ready mind) Avoiding this, lest any one should blame us in this abundance, which is administred by us.

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

For we provide things honest, not only before the Lord, but also before men.

That in a great trial of affliction, their overflowing joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality:

If any inquire concerning Titus, he is my partner, and fellow-labourer with respect to you; or concerning our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

And this they did, not as we hoped; but first gave themselves to the Lord, and to us by the will of God:

I speak not by way of command, but that by the diligence of others, I may prove the sincerity of your love.

Praying us with much intreaty, to receive the gift and take a part in ministring it to the saints.

So that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also compleat this gift among you.

That to their power, I testify, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves,

Therefore as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.