King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
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We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that has been granted to the churches of Macedonia;
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.
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for during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
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For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means,
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
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begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints—
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.
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and this, not merely as we expected; they gave themselves first to the Lord and, by the will of God, to us,
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
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so that we might urge Titus that, as he had already made a beginning, so he should also complete this generous undertaking among you.
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.
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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 speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
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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 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.
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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 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.
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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 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.
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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 there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
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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 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
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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 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:
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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, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
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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."
16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
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But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same eagerness for you that I myself have.
17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
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For he not only accepted our appeal, but since he is more eager than ever, he is going to you of his own accord.
18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
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With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his proclaiming the good news;
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:
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and not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this generous undertaking for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our goodwill.
20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
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We intend that no one should blame us about this generous gift that we are administering,
21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
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for we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of others.
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.
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And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found eager in many matters, but who is now more eager than ever because of his great confidence in you.
23 Whether 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.
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As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker in your service; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
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Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
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.