New International Version NIV
New Revised Standard NRS
7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
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Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you —so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
8 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.
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I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
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For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
10 And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
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And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something—
11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
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now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means.
12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
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For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have.
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
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I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between
14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality,
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your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance.
15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
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As it is written, "The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little."
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New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.