| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on 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: |
| 2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. | 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 I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, | 3I can testify that, according to their ability and even beyond their ability, 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 begged us earnestly for the privilege of sharing in the ministry 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 just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God's will. |
| 6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well. | 6So we urged Titus that just as he had begun, so he should also complete among you this act of grace. |
| 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. | 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 speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. | 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 sakes He became poor, that you through 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 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 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. |
| 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 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 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 a person 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 that there should 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 supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. | 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, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who 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 puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. | 16Thanks be to God, who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. |
| 17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. | 17For he welcomed our appeal 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 among all the churches for his gospel ministry. |
| 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, | 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. |
| 20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— | 20We are taking this precaution so that no one will criticize us about this large sum that we are administering. |
| 21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. | 21Indeed, we are giving careful thought to do what is right, not only before the Lord but also before people. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 coworker for you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. |
| 24Therefore show 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. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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