| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: | 1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God granted 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. | 2During a severe testing by affliction, their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed into the wealth of their generosity. |
| 3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, | 3I testify that, on their own, according to their ability and 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 insistently for the privilege of sharing in the 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. | 5and not just as we had hoped. Instead, they gave themselves especially to the Lord, then to us by 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 that just as he had begun, so he should also complete this grace to you. |
| 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. | 7Now as you excel in everything--faith, speech, knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love for us--excel also in this grace. |
| 8I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. | 8I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. |
| 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 Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you 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; | 10Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire 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. | 11But now finish the task as well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. |
| 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, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. |
| 13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; | 13It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality-- |
| 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 is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality. |
| 15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” | 15As it has been written: The person who gathered much did not have too much, and the person who gathered little did not have too little. |
| 16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. | 16Thanks be to God who put the same concern for you into the heart of Titus. |
| 17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord. | 17For he accepted our urging and, being very diligent, went out to you by his own choice. |
| 18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches, | 18We have sent with him the brother who is praised throughout the churches for his gospel ministry. |
| 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, | 19And not only that, but he was also appointed by the churches to accompany us with this gift that is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself and to show our eagerness to help. |
| 20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us— | 20We are taking this precaution so no one can criticize us about this large sum administered by us. |
| 21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. | 21For we are making provision for what is right, not only before the Lord but also before men. |
| 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. We have often tested him in many circumstances and found him to be diligent--and now even more diligent because of his great 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 coworker serving you; as for our brothers, they are the messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. |
| 24Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf. | 24Therefore, show them proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you. |
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