| Holman Christian Standard Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: | 1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, |
| 2During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. | 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. |
| 3I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, | 3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, |
| 4they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, | 4begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— |
| 5and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God's will. | 5and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. |
| 6So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you. | 6Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. |
| 7Now as you excel in everything--faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us--excel also in this 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. |
| 8I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. | 8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 10Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it. | 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. |
| 11But now finish the task as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. | 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. |
| 12For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. | 12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. |
| 13It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality-- | 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness |
| 14at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality. | 14your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. |
| 15As it has been written: The person who gathered much did not have too much, and the person who gathered little did not have too little. | 15As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” |
| 16Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. | 16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. |
| 17For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice. | 17For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. |
| 18We have sent with him the brother who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry. | 18With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. |
| 19And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help. | 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. |
| 20We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us. | 20We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, |
| 21For we are making provision for what is right, not only before the Lord but also before men. | 21for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 23As for Titus, he is my partner and coworker serving you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. | 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. |
| 24Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you. | 24So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. |
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