| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: | 1Now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the churches of Macedonia. |
| 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. | 2In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity. |
| 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, | 3For I testify that they gave according to their ability and even beyond it. Of their own accord, |
| 4imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. | 4they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. |
| 5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God. | 5And not only did they do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, because it was the will of God. |
| 6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. | 6So we urged Titus to help complete your act of grace, just as he had started it. |
| 7But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. | 7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. |
| 8I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. | 8I am not making a demand, but I am testing the sincerity of your love in comparison to the earnestness of others. |
| 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. | 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. |
| 10And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; | 10And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire. |
| 11but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. | 11Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means. |
| 12For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. | 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. |
| 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; | 13It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. |
| 14but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. | 14At the present time, your surplus will meet their need, so that in turn their surplus will meet your need. Then there will be equality. |
| 15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” | 15As it is written: “He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no shortfall.” |
| 16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. | 16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same devotion I have for you. |
| 17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. | 17For not only did he welcome our appeal, but he is eagerly coming to you of his own volition. |
| 18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, | 18Along with Titus we are sending the brother who is praised by all the churches for his work in the gospel. |
| 19and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind, | 19More than that, this brother was chosen by the churches to accompany us with the offering—the gracious gift we administer to honor the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help. |
| 20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— | 20We hope to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift. |
| 21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. | 21For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men. |
| 22And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you. | 22And we are sending along with them our brother whose earnestness has been proven many times and in many ways, and now even more so by his great confidence in you. |
| 23If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. | 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you. As for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, to the glory of Christ. |
| 24Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. | 24In full view of the churches, then, show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our boasting about you. |
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