2 Corinthians 8 NKJV ISV Parallel

◄ 2 Corinthians 8 ►

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1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

1We want you to know, brothers, about God's grace 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.

2In spite of their terrible ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and deep poverty have led them to be abundantly generous.

3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,

3I can testify that by their own free will they have given to the utmost of their ability, yes, even beyond their ability.

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 participating in this 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.

5We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was 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 to finish this work of kindness among you in the same way that 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.

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 speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

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 sakes He became poor, that you through 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 I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;

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.

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 what you began, so that your eagerness to do so may be matched by your eagerness to complete it.

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 you have, not according to what you do not have.

13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

13Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness.

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 fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair.

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.

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 the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.

17He welcomed my request and eagerly went to visit you by his own free will.

18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches,

18With him we have sent the brother who is praised in all the churches for spreading 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, 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.

20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—

20We are trying to avoid any criticism of the way we are administering this great undertaking.

21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

21We intend to do what is right, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of 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 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.

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 on your behalf. Our brothers, emissaries from the churches, are bringing glory to the Messiah.

24Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.

24Therefore, demonstrate to the churches that you love them and show them publicly why we boast about you.

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