2 Corinthians 8

1 Now we make known to you⁺, brothers, the grace of God having been given in the churches of Macedonia,

2 that in much proof of tribulation, the abundance of their joy and of their deep poverty abounded into the riches of their generosity.

3 For I testify [that] according to [their] power and beyond [their] power, of their own accord,

4 with much entreaty [they were] imploring us for the grace and the fellowship of the service to the saints.

5 And not even as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

6 Accordingly, we exhorted Titus that just as he began before, so also he might complete to you⁺ also this grace,

7 but just as you⁺ abound in everything—in faith and word and knowledge and all earnestness and in the love from us in you⁺—that also you⁺ may abound in this grace.

8 I do not speak as a command, but proving the genuineness of your⁺ love through the earnestness of others also.

9 For you⁺ know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that being rich, on account of you⁺ He became poor, so that you⁺ by that poverty might be enriched.

10 And I give a judgment in this [matter], for this is profitable for you⁺, who not only began before to do, but also to will, from a year ago.

11 And now also complete the doing, so that just as [there was] the readiness to will, so also [there may be] to complete out of that which you have.

12 For if the readiness is present, [it is] acceptable as if he may have, not as he does not have.

13 For [it is] not that to others [is] relief [and] for you⁺ tribulation, but of equality.

14 At the present time, your⁺ abundance [is] for their need, so that their abundance also may be for your⁺ need, so that there may be equality.

15 As it has been written: “The one who [gathered] much did not abound, and the one who [gathered] little did not lack.”

16 But thanks to God, the One putting the same earnestness for you⁺ in the heart of Titus.

17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation, but being more earnest, of his own accord he went out to you⁺.

18 And we sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel [is] through all of the churches,

19 and not only [that], but also having been appointed by the churches, [he is] our fellow traveler with this grace that [is] being ministered by us toward the glory of the Lord Himself and [to] our readiness,

20 avoiding this, lest anyone should blame us in this abundance being ministered by us.

21 For we are giving forethought to what is right, not only before the Lord but also before men.

22 Now we sent with them our brother, whom we proved often in many things to be earnest, but now much more earnest by [his] confidence that [is] in you⁺.

23 Whether as regards Titus my partner and fellow worker for you⁺. or our brothers, [they are] apostles of the churches, the glory of Christ—

24 the demonstration therefore of your⁺ love and of our boasting on behalf of you⁺ to them, demonstrated to the face of the churches.