2 Corinthians 8:1-18

1NowG1161, brothersG80 and sisters, we makeG1107 knownG1107 to you the graceG5485 of GodG2316 which has been 1givenG1325 in the churchesG1577 of 2MacedoniaG3109, 2that in a 3greatG4183 ordealG1382 of afflictionG2347 their abundanceG4050 of joyG5479 and their deepG899 povertyG4432 overflowedG4052 in the 4wealthG4149 of their liberalityG572. 3For I testifyG3140 that 5accordingG2596 to their abilityG1411, and beyondG3844 their abilityG1411, they gave voluntarilyG830, 4beggingG1189 us with muchG4183 urgingG3874 for the 6favorG5485 7of participationG2842 in the 89supportG1248 of the 10saintsG40, 5and this, not as we had 11expectedG1679, but they firstG4413 12gaveG1325 themselvesG1438 to the LordG2962 and to us by 13the willG2307 of GodG2316. 6SoG3779 we 14urgedG3870 15TitusG5103 that as he had previouslyG4278 16madeG4278 aG4278 beginningG4278, soG3779 he would alsoG2532 completeG2005 in you 17thisG3778 graciousG5485 workG5485 asG2532 wellG2532.

7But justG5618 as you 18excelG4052 19in everythingG3956, in faithG4102, speakingG3056, knowledgeG1108, and in allG3956 earnestnessG4710 and in the 20loveG26 we inspiredG1537 in you, see that you alsoG2532 21excelG4052 in thisG3778 graciousG5485 workG5485. 8I 22am not sayingG3004 this as a commandG2003, but as provingG1381, throughG1223 the earnestnessG4710 of othersG2087, the sincerityG1103 of your loveG26 asG2532 wellG2532. 9For you knowG1097 23the graceG5485 of our LordG2962 JesusG2424 ChristG5547, that 24though He was richG4145, yet for your sakeG1223 He becameG4433 poorG4434, soG2443 thatG2443 you through His povertyG4432 might becomeG4147 richG4147. 10I 25giveG1325 my opinionG1106 in thisG3778 matter, for thisG3778 isG4851 toG4851 your advantageG4851, whoG3748 were the firstG4278 toG4278 beginG4278 26a yearG4070 agoG4070 not onlyG3440 to doG4160 this, but alsoG2532 to desireG2309 to do it. 11But nowG3570 finishG2005 27doingG4160 it alsoG2532, soG3704 thatG3704 justG2509 asG2509 there was the 28willingnessG4288 to desireG2309 it, soG3779 there may be alsoG2532 the completionG2005 of it by your abilityG2192. 12For ifG1487 the willingnessG4288 is presentG4295, it is acceptableG2144 29accordingG2526 toG2526 whatG2526 a person hasG2192, not accordingG2526 toG2526 whatG2526 he does not haveG2192. 13For this is not for the reliefG425 of othersG243 and for your hardshipG2347, but by wayG1537 of equalityG2471-- 14at thisG3588 presentG3568 timeG2540 your abundanceG4051 will serve as assistance for 30their needG5303, soG2443 thatG2443 their abundanceG4051 alsoG2532 may 31serveG1096 asG1096 assistance for 32your needG5303, soG3704 thatG3704 there may be equalityG2471; 15as it is writtenG1125: “33The one who had gathered muchG4183 did not haveG4121 tooG4121 muchG4121, and the one who had gathered littleG3641 did not haveG1641 tooG1641 littleG1641.”

16But 34thanksG5485 be to GodG2316 who 35putsG1325 the sameG846 earnestnessG4710 inG5228 your behalfG5228 in the heartG2588 of 36TitusG5103. 17For he not onlyG3303 acceptedG1209 our 37appealG3874, but beingG5225 himselfG830 very earnestG4705, he has goneG1831 to you of his ownG830 accordG830. 18We have sentG4842 alongG4842 with him 38the brotherG80 whoseG3739 fameG1868 in the things of the 39gospelG2098 has spread throughG1223 40allG3956 the churchesG1577;