CEB 7 Be the best in this work of grace in the same way that you are the best in everything, such as faith, speech, knowledge, total commitment, and the love we inspired in you. NRS 7 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. CEB 8 I'm not giving an order, but by mentioning the commitment of others, I'm trying to prove the authenticity of your love also. NRS 8 I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. CEB 9 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was rich, he became poor for our sakes, so that you could become rich through his poverty. NRS 9 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. CEB 10 I'm giving you my opinion about this. It's to your advantage to do this, since you not only started to do it last year but you wanted to do it too. NRS 10 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— CEB 11 Now finish the job as well so that you finish it with as much enthusiasm as you started, given what you can afford. NRS 11 now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. CEB 12 A gift is appreciated because of what a person can afford, not because of what that person can't afford, if it's apparent that it's done willingly. NRS 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. CEB 13 It isn't that we want others to have financial ease and you financial difficulties, but it's a matter of equality. NRS 13 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 CEB 14 At the present moment, your surplus can fill their deficit so that in the future their surplus can fill your deficit. In this way there is equality. NRS 14 your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. CEB 15 As it is written, The one who gathered more didn't have too much, and the one who gathered less didn't have too little. NRS 15 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."
NRS 7 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. NRS 8 I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. NRS 9 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. NRS 10 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— NRS 11 now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. NRS 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. NRS 13 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 NRS 14 your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. NRS 15 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."