2 Corinthians 8 We now, brethren, make known to you, the bounty of God which hath been granted by the congregations of Macedonia,

Thomson⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ We now, brethren, make known to you, the bounty of God which hath been granted by the congregations of Macedonia, ² that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy, though their poverty was very great, abounded for the richness of their liberality ³ that to the utmost of their ability, I bear them witness, nay, beyond their ability, they were of themselves forward, ⁴ beseeching us with much intreaty to receive this bounty, and take a share with others in the office of distributing it to the saints, ⁵ not indeed as if we had expected this; but they gave themselves first to the Lord, then to us by the will of God, ⁶ so as to induce us to exhort Titus, as he had begun, to continue on and complete this bounty among you; ⁷ that, as you abound in every thing; in belief, and doctrine, and knowledge, and in all earnestness even in your love for us, you might abound also in this bounty. ⁸ I do not say this by way of command, but am, during the exertion of others, proving the genuineness of your love. ⁹ For you know the bounty of our Lord Jesus Christ, that rich as he was, he for your sakes became poor, that through his poverty you might become rich. ¹⁰ And I give you my opinion on this occasion, for this is becoming of you who took the lead, not only in doing, but even in forming the design above a year ago. ¹¹ Now therefore compleat the doing, that the performance with what you have, may be answerable to the readiness with which you undertook it. ¹² For if there be a willingness, a person is accepted according to what he hath; not according to what he hath not. ¹³ For it is not the design that others should be eased, and you burdened; ¹⁴ but for the sake of equality your abundance at this time should supply their want; in order that their abundance may supply your want, so that there may be an equality. ¹⁵ As it is written, He Who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little did not fall short." ¹⁶ Now thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnestness for you in the heart of Titus. ¹⁷ For he indeed received an exhortation, but from an extraordinary earnestness he was going to you of his own accord. ¹⁸ Now with him we have sent the brother whose praise is by the gospel throughout all the congregations. ¹⁹ And not only so, but he hath been chosen by the congregations to accompany us with this bounty; the distribution of which we have undertaken for the glory of the Lord and your readiness, ²⁰ using this precaution that none may blame us in the distribution of this large sum; ²¹ being careful to conduct ourselves well, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. ²² And with them we have sent that brother of ours whose diligence in many affairs we have many a time experienced, and who is now more than ordinarily intent on this from the great confidence which he hath in you. ²³ Now with regard to Titus, he is my partner and fellow labourer for you; and as for our brethren, they are messengers of congregations, a glory of Christ. ²⁴ Display therefore for them, and for the view of these congregations, the demonstration of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.