| English Standard Version | International Standard Version |
| 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, about God's grace 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. | 2In spite of their terrible ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and deep poverty have led them to be abundantly generous. |
| 3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, | 3I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability. |
| 4begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— | 4They begged us earnestly for the privilege of participating in this 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. | 5We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was 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 to finish this work of kindness among you in the same way that he had started it. |
| 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. | 7Indeed, the more your faith, speech, knowledge, enthusiasm, and love for us increase, the more we want you to be rich in this work of kindness. |
| 8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. | 8I am not commanding you but testing the genuineness of your love by the enthusiasm of others. |
| 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, the Messiah. Although he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, so that you, through his poverty, 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. | 10I am giving you my opinion on this matter because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing to do something, but had already started 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 finish what you began, so that your eagerness to do so may be matched by your eagerness to complete it. |
| 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 you have, not according to what you do not have. |
| 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness | 13Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness. |
| 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 fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair. |
| 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. | 16But thanks be to God, who placed in the heart of Titus the same dedication to you that I have. |
| 17For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. | 17He welcomed my request and eagerly went to visit you by his own free will. |
| 18With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. | 18With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for spreading the gospel. |
| 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. | 19More than that, he has also been selected by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this work of kindness for the glory of the Lord and as evidence of 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 trying to avoid any criticism of the way we are administering this great undertaking. |
| 21for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. | 21We intend to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of 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 whom we have often tested in many ways and found to be dedicated. At present he is more dedicated than ever because he has so much 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 fellow worker on your behalf. Our brothers, emissaries from the churches, are bringing glory to the Messiah. |
| 24So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. | 24Therefore, demonstrate to the churches that you love them and show them publicly why we boast 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 Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
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