| English Standard Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, | 1We want you to know, brothers and sisters, about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia: |
| 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. | 2During a severe trial brought about by affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. |
| 3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, | 3I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, of their own accord, |
| 4begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— | 4they begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, |
| 5and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. | 5and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God's will. |
| 6Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. | 6So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace. |
| 7But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. | 7Now as you excel in everything--in faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us--excel also in this act of grace. |
| 8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. | 8I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. |
| 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. | 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. |
| 10And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. | 10And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it. |
| 11So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. | 11Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. |
| 12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. | 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. |
| 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness | 13It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality. |
| 14your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. | 14At the present time your surplus is available for their need, so that their abundance may in turn meet your need, in order that there may be equality. |
| 15As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” | 15As it is written: The person who had much did not have too much, and the person who had little did not have too little. |
| 16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. | 16Thanks be to God, who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. |
| 17For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. | 17For he welcomed our appeal and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice. |
| 18With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. | 18We have sent with him the brother who is praised among all the churches for his gospel ministry. |
| 19And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. | 19And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gracious gift that we are administering for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. |
| 20We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, | 20We are taking this precaution so that no one will criticize us about this large sum that we are administering. |
| 21for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. | 21Indeed, we are giving careful thought to do what is right, not only before the Lord but also before people. |
| 22And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. | 22We have also sent with them our brother. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent--and now even more diligent because of his great confidence in you. |
| 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. | 23As for Titus, he is my partner and coworker for you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. |
| 24So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. | 24Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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