Seconda lettera ai Corinzi - 2 Corinthians 8

GREEK BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Γνωστοποιουμεν δε εις εσας, αδελφοι, την χαριν του Θεου την δεδομενην εις τας εκκλησιας της Μακεδονιας,	1 Next, brothers, we will tel you of the grace of God which has been granted to the churches ofMacedonia,
2 οτι η περισσεια της χαρας αυτων, ενω εδοκιμαζον μεγαλην θλιψιν, και η βαθεια πτωχεια αυτων ανεδειξαν εκ περισσου τον πλουτον της ελευθεροτητος αυτων?	2 and how, throughout continual ordeals of hardship, their unfailing joy and their intense poverty haveoverflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
3 διοτι υπηρξαν κατα δυναμιν, μαρτυρω τουτο, και υπερ δυναμιν αυτοπροαιρετοι,	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;
4 παρακαλουντες ημας μετα πολλης παρακλησεως να δεχθωμεν την χαριν και την κοινωνιαν της διακονιας της εις τους αγιους,	4 and they had kept imploring us most insistently for the privilege of a share in the fellowship of service toGod's holy people-
5 και ουχι μονον καθως ηλπισαμεν, αλλ' εαυτους εδωκαν πρωτον εις τον Κυριον και εις ημας δια θεληματος του Θεου,	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.
6 ωστε παρεκαλεσαμεν τον Τιτον, καθως ηρχισεν, ουτω και να τελειωση προς εσας και την χαριν ταυτην.	6 In the end we urged Titus, since he had already made a beginning, also to bring this work of generosityto completion among you.
7 Καθως λοιπον περισσευετε εν παντι, εν πιστει και λογω και γνωσει και παση σπουδη και της προς ημας αγαπης σας, ουτω σπουδασατε να περισσευσητε και εν ταυτη τη χαριτι.	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.
8 Δεν λεγω τουτο κατ' επιταγην, αλλα δια να δοκιμασω δια της σπουδης των αλλων και την γνησιοτητα της αγαπης σας?	8 I am not saying this as an order, but testing the genuineness of your love against the concern of others.
9 διοτι εξευρετε την χαριν του Κυριου ημων Ιησου Χριστου, οτι πλουσιος ων επτωχευσε δια σας, δια να πλουτησητε σεις με την πτωχειαν εκεινου.	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.
10 Και εις τουτο γνωμην διδω? διοτι τουτο συμφερει εις εσας, οιτινες ηρχισατε απο περυσιν ουχι μονον το να καμητε, αλλα και το να θελητε?	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.
11 τωρα δε τελειωσατε και το να καμητε, ωστε καθως υπηρξεν η προθυμια του θελειν, ουτω να υπαρχη και το τελειωσαι αφ' οσα εχετε.	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.
12 Διοτι εαν προυπαρχη η προθυμια, ειναι τις ευπροσδεκτος καθ' οσα εχει, ουχι καθ' οσα δεν εχει.	12 As long as the enthusiasm is there, the basis on which it is acceptable is what someone has, not whatsomeone does not have.
13 Επειδη δεν θελω να ηναι εις αλλους ανεσις, εις εσας δε στενοχωρια	13 It is not that you ought to relieve other people's needs and leave yourselves in hardship; but thereshould be a fair balance-
14 αλλα να γεινη εν ισοτητι, ωστε εν τω παροντι καιρω το περισσευμα σας να αναπληρωση την στερησιν εκεινων, δια να χρησιμευση και το περισσευμα εκεινων εις την στερησιν σας, ωστε να γεινη ισοτης,	14 your surplus at present may fil their deficit, and another time their surplus may fil your deficit. Sothere may be a fair balance;
15 καθως ειναι γεγραμμενον? Οστις ειχε συναξει πολυ δεν ελαμβανε πλειοτερον, και οστις ολιγον δεν ελαμβανεν ολιγωτερον.	15 as scripture says: No one who had collected more had too much, no one who col ected less had toolittle.
16 Χαρις δε εις τον Θεον τον διδοντα εις την καρδιαν του Τιτου την αυτην σπουδην δια σας,	16 Thank God for putting into Titus' heart the same sincere concern for you.
17 διοτι την μεν προτροπην εδεχθη, προθυμοτερος δε ων ανεχωρησε προς εσας αυτοπροαιρετος.	17 He certainly took our urging to heart; but greater still was his own enthusiasm, and he went off to youof his own accord.
18 Επεμψαμεν δε μετ' αυτου τον αδελφον, του οποιου ο εν τω ευαγγελιω επαινος γινεται κατα πασας τας εκκλησιας?	18 We have sent with him the brother who is praised as an evangelist in al the churches
19 και ουχι μονον τουτο, αλλα και εψηφισθη υπο των εκκλησιων συνοδοιπορος ημων μετα της δωρεας ταυτης της διακονουμενης υφ' ημων προς την δοξαν αυτου του Κυριου και προς ενδειξιν της προθυμιας σας?	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.
20 φοβουμενοι τουτο, μη προσαψη τις εις ημας μωμον εν τη αφθονια ταυτη τη διακονουμενη υφ' ημων,	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.
21 προνοουντες τα καλα ουχι μονον ενωπιον του Κυριου, αλλα και ενωπιον των ανθρωπων.	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.
22 Επεμψαμεν δε μετ' αυτων τον αδελφον ημων, τον οποιον πολλακις εδοκιμασαμεν εν πολλοις οτι ειναι προθυμος, τωρα δε πολυ προθυμοτερος δια την πολλην πεποιθησιν την προς εσας.	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.
23 Οσον μεν περι Τιτου, ειναι κοινωνος εμου και εις εσας συνεργος? οσον δε περι των αδελφων ημων, ειναι αποστολοι των εκκλησιων, δοξα Χριστου.	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.
24 Την ενδειξιν λοιπον της αγαπης σας και της καυχησεως ημων την οποιαν εχομεν δια σας, δειξατε προς αυτους και ενωπιον των εκκλησιων.	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.