1 Now, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia,
2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality.
3 For they gave according to their ability, I testify, and beyond their ability, of their own accord,
4 begging us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints;
5 and this not as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God,
6 so that we urged Titus that, as he had begun before, so he would also complete this grace among you as well.
7 But as you abound in everything, in faith and word and knowledge and all earnestness and in your love toward us, see that you also abound in this grace.
8 I do not speak by way of command, but through the earnestness of others I am testing the genuineness of your love as well.
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, being rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
10 And in this I give my opinion; for this is to your advantage, since a year ago you were the first to begin, not only to do but also to be willing.
11 So now also finish the doing, so that as there was a readiness to be willing, so there may also be a completion out of what you have.
12 For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
13 For it is not that others should have relief and you hardship, but by way of equality: at the present time your abundance may supply their need,
14 so that their abundance may also supply your need, that there may be equality,
15 as it is written, "He who gathered much had no surplus, and he who gathered little had no shortage."
16 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnestness for you in the heart of Titus.
17 For he not only accepted our appeal, but being very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.
18 And we have sent with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is throughout all the churches;
19 and not only that, but he was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which we are administering to the glory of the Lord himself and to show your readiness;
20 avoiding this, that anyone should find fault with us over this generous sum that we are administering,
21 for we take thought for what is honorable not only before the Lord but also before men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found earnest in many things, but now much more earnest because of his great confidence in you.
23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.
24 So show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting about you.