The Message Bible MSG
The Latin Vulgate VUL
1 Now, friends, I want to report on the surprising and generous ways in which God is working in the churches in Macedonia province.
1
notam autem facimus vobis fratres gratiam Dei quae data est in ecclesiis Macedoniae
2 Fierce troubles came down on the people of those churches, pushing them to the very limit. The trial exposed their true colors: They were incredibly happy, though desperately poor. The pressure triggered something totally unexpected: an outpouring of pure and generous gifts.
2
quod in multo experimento tribulationis abundantia gaudii ipsorum et altissima paupertas eorum abundavit in divitias simplicitatis eorum
3 I was there and saw it for myself. They gave offerings of whatever they could - far more than they could afford! -
3
quia secundum virtutem testimonium illis reddo et supra virtutem voluntarii fuerunt
4 pleading for the privilege of helping out in the relief of poor Christians.
4
cum multa exhortatione obsecrantes nos gratiam et communicationem ministerii quod fit in sanctos
5 This was totally spontaneous, entirely their own idea, and caught us completely off guard. What explains it was that they had first given themselves unreservedly to God and to us. The other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives.
5
et non sicut speravimus sed semet ipsos dederunt primum Domino deinde nobis per voluntatem Dei
6 That's what prompted us to ask Titus to bring the relief offering to your attention, so that what was so well begun could be finished up.
6
ita ut rogaremus Titum ut quemadmodum coepit ita et perficiat in vos etiam gratiam istam
7 You do so well in so many things - you trust God, you're articulate, you're insightful, you're passionate, you love us - now, do your best in this, too.
7
sed sicut in omnibus abundatis fide et sermone et scientia et omni sollicitudine et caritate vestra in nos ut et in hac gratia abundetis
8 I'm not trying to order you around against your will. But by bringing in the Macedonians' enthusiasm as a stimulus to your love, I am hoping to bring the best out of you.
8
non quasi imperans dico sed per aliorum sollicitudinem etiam vestrae caritatis ingenitum bonum conprobans
9 You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us - in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.
9
scitis enim gratiam Domini nostri Iesu Christi quoniam propter vos egenus factus est cum esset dives ut illius inopia vos divites essetis
10 So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale.
10
et consilium in hoc do hoc enim vobis utile est qui non solum facere sed et velle coepistis ab anno priore
11 Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it.
11
nunc vero et facto perficite ut quemadmodum promptus est animus voluntatis ita sit et perficiendi ex eo quod habetis
12 Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands.
12
si enim voluntas prompta est secundum id quod habet accepta est non secundum quod non habet
13 This isn't so others can take it easy while you sweat it out. No, you're shoulder to shoulder with them all the way,
13
non enim ut aliis sit remissio vobis autem tribulatio sed ex aequalitate
14 your surplus matching their deficit, their surplus matching your deficit. In the end you come out even.
14
in praesenti tempore vestra abundantia illorum inopiam suppleat ut et illorum abundantia vestrae inopiae sit supplementum ut fiat aequalitas sicut scriptum est
15 As it is written, Nothing left over to the one with the most, Nothing lacking to the one with the least.
15
qui multum non abundavit et qui modicum non minoravit
16 I thank God for giving Titus the same devoted concern for you that I have.
16
gratias autem Deo qui dedit eandem sollicitudinem pro vobis in corde Titi
17 He was most considerate of how we felt, but his eagerness to go to you and help out with this relief offering is his own idea.
17
quoniam exhortationem quidem suscepit sed cum sollicitior esset sua voluntate profectus est ad vos
18 We're sending a companion along with him, someone very popular in the churches for his preaching of the Message.
18
misimus etiam cum illo fratrem cuius laus est in evangelio per omnes ecclesias
19 But there's far more to him than popularity. He's rock-solid trustworthy. The churches handpicked him to go with us as we travel about doing this work of sharing God's gifts to honor God as well as we can,
19
non solum autem sed et ordinatus ab ecclesiis comes peregrinationis nostrae in hac gratia quae ministratur a nobis ad Domini gloriam et destinatam voluntatem nostram
20 taking every precaution against scandal.
20
devitantes hoc ne quis nos vituperet in hac plenitudine quae ministratur a nobis
21 We're being as careful in our reputation with the public as in our reputation with God.
21
providemus enim bona non solum coram Deo sed etiam coram hominibus
22 That's why we're sending another trusted friend along. He's proved his dependability many times over, and carries on as energetically as the day he started. He's heard much about you, and liked what he's heard - so much so that he can't wait to get there.
22
misimus autem cum illis et fratrem nostrum quem probavimus in multis saepe sollicitum esse nunc autem multo sollicitiorem confidentia multa in vos
23 I don't need to say anything further about Titus. We've been close associates in this work of serving you for a long time. The brothers who travel with him are delegates from churches, a real credit to Christ.
23
sive pro Tito qui est socius meus et in vos adiutor sive fratres nostri apostoli ecclesiarum gloriae Christi
24 Show them what you're made of, the love I've been talking up in the churches. Let them see it for themselves!
24
ostensionem ergo quae est caritatis vestrae et nostrae gloriae pro vobis in illos ostendite in faciem ecclesiarum
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.