Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Now we make known unto you, brethren, the grace of God that hath been given in 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 That in much experience of tribulation, they have had abundance of joy and their very deep poverty hath abounded unto the riches of their simplicity.
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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 according to their power (I bear them witness) and beyond their power, they were willing:
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For, as I can testify, they voluntarily gave according to their means, and even beyond their means,
4 With much entreaty begging of us the grace and communication of the ministry that is done toward the saints.
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begging us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in this ministry to the saints—
5 And not as we hoped: but they gave their own selves, first to the Lord, then to 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 also he would finish among you this same grace.
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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 That as in all things you abound in faith and word and knowledge and all carefulness, moreover also in your charity towards us: so in this grace also you may abound.
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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 as commanding: but by the carefulness of others, approving also the good disposition of your charity.
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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 being rich he became poor for your sakes: that through his poverty you 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 profitable for you who have begun not only to do but also to be willing, 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 ye it also in deed: that as your mind is forward to be willing, so it may be also to perform, out of that which you 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 the will be forward, it is accepted according to that which a man hath: not according to that which 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 others should be eased and you burdened, but by an 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 In this present time let your abundance supply their want, that their abundance also may supply your want: that there may be an 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 much had nothing over; and he that had little had no want.
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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 And thanks be to God, who hath given the same carefulness for you in the heart of Titus.
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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 careful, of his own will 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 We have sent also with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel through 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 he was also ordained by the churches companion of our travels, for this grace, which is administered by us, to the glory of the Lord and our determined will:
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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, lest any 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 For we forecast what may be good, not only before God but also before 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 also, whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent: with much confidence 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 Either for Titus, who is my companion and fellow labourer towards you, or our brethren, the apostles of the churches, 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, in the sight of the churches, the evidence of your charity 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 Douay-Rheims Bible 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.