2 Corinthians 8

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Next, brothers, we will tel you of the grace of God which has been granted to the churches ofMacedonia,	1 We want you to know, brothers, of the grace of God that has been given to the churches of Macedonia,
2 and how, throughout continual ordeals of hardship, their unfailing joy and their intense poverty haveoverflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.	2 for in a severe test of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3 I can testify that it was of their own accord that they made their gift, which was not merely as far as theirresources would al ow, but wel beyond their resources;	3 For according to their means, I can testify, and beyond their means, spontaneously,
4 and they had kept imploring us most insistently for the privilege of a share in the fellowship of service toGod's holy people-	4 they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the service to the holy ones,
5 it was not something that we expected of them, but it began by their offering themselves to the Lordand to us at the prompting of the wil of God.	5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the will of God,
6 In the end we urged Titus, since he had already made a beginning, also to bring this work of generosityto completion among you.	6 so that we urged Titus that, as he had already begun, he should also complete for you this gracious act also.
7 More, as you are rich in everything-faith, eloquence, understanding, concern for everything, and lovefor us too -- then make sure that you excel in this work of generosity too.	7 Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also.
8 I am not saying this as an order, but testing the genuineness of your love against the concern of others.	8 I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others.
9 You are wel aware of the generosity which our Lord Jesus Christ had, that, although he was rich, hebecame poor for your sake, so that you should become rich through his poverty.	9 For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.
10 I will give you my considered opinion in the matter; this wil be the right course for you as you were thefirst, a year ago, not only to take any action but also even to conceive the project.	10 And I am giving counsel in this matter, for it is appropriate for you who began not only to act but to act willingly last year:
11 Now, then, complete the action as wel , so that the fulfilment may -- so far as your resources permit --be proportionate to your enthusiasm for the project.	11 complete it now, so that your eager willingness may be matched by your completion of it out of what you have.
12 As long as the enthusiasm is there, the basis on which it is acceptable is what someone has, not whatsomeone does not have.	12 For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have;
13 It is not that you ought to relieve other people's needs and leave yourselves in hardship; but thereshould be a fair balance-	13 not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality
14 your surplus at present may fil their deficit, and another time their surplus may fil your deficit. Sothere may be a fair balance;	14 your surplus at the present time should supply their needs, so that their surplus may also supply your needs, that there may be equality.
15 as scripture says: No one who had collected more had too much, no one who col ected less had toolittle.	15 As it is written: "Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less."
16 Thank God for putting into Titus' heart the same sincere concern for you.	16 But thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus,
17 He certainly took our urging to heart; but greater still was his own enthusiasm, and he went off to youof his own accord.	17 for he not only welcomed our appeal but, since he is very concerned, he has gone to you of his own accord.
18 We have sent with him the brother who is praised as an evangelist in al the churches	18 With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for his preaching of the gospel.
19 and who, what is more, was elected by the churches to be our travel ing companion in this work ofgenerosity, a work to be administered by us for the glory of the Lord and our complete satisfaction.	19 And not only that, but he has also been appointed our traveling companion by the churches in this gracious work administered by us for the glory of the Lord (himself) and for the expression of our eagerness.
20 We arranged it this way so that no one should be able to make any accusation against us about thislarge sum we are administering.	20 This we desire to avoid, that anyone blame us about this lavish gift administered by us,
21 And so we have been careful to do right not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of people.	21 for we are concerned for what is honorable not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of others.
22 Along with these, we have sent a brother of ours whose eagerness we have tested over and overagain in many ways and who is now all the more eager because he has so much faith in you.	22 And with them we have sent our brother whom we often tested in many ways and found earnest, but who is now much more earnest because of his great confidence in you.
23 If Titus is in question -- he is my own partner and fellow-worker in your interests; and if our brothers --they are the emissaries of the churches and the glory of Christ.	23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker for you; as for our brothers, they are apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 So then, in full view of al the churches, give proof that you love them, and that we were right to boastof you to them.	24 So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to them.