| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; | 1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted to the churches of Macedonia: |
| 2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. | 2During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. |
| 3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; | 3I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and beyond their ability, |
| 4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. | 4they begged us insistently for the privilege of sharing in the ministry to the saints, |
| 5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. | 5and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by God's will. |
| 6Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. | 6So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you. |
| 7Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. | 7Now as you excel in everything--faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us--excel also in this grace. |
| 8I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. | 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 ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be 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 herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. | 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. |
| 11Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. | 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. |
| 12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. | 12For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. |
| 13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: | 13It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality-- |
| 14But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: | 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. |
| 15As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. | 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. |
| 16But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. | 16Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. |
| 17For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. | 17For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice. |
| 18And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; | 18We have sent with him the brother who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry. |
| 19And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: | 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. |
| 20Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: | 20We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us. |
| 21Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. | 21For we are making provision for what is right, not only before the Lord but also before men. |
| 22And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have 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. |
| 23Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. | 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. |
| 24Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf. | 24Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you. |
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