1995 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

2 Corinthians 8

1 He stirreth them up to a liberal contribution for the poor saints at Jerusalem, by the example of the Macedonians, 7 by commendation of their former forwardness, 9 by the example of Christ, 14 and by the spiritual profit that shall redound to themselves thereby: 16 commending to them the integrity and willingness of Titus, and those other brethren, who upon his request, exhortation, and commendation, were purposely come to them for this business.

 8:1 Now 1161, brethren 80, we [wish to] make 1107 known 1107 to you the grace 5485 of God 2316 which has been given 1325 in the churches 1577 of Macedonia 3109,

 8:2 that in a great 4183 ordeal 1382 of affliction 2347 their abundance 4050 of joy 5479 and their deep 899 poverty 4432 overflowed 4052 in the wealth 4149 of their liberality 572.

 8:3 For I testify 3140 that according 2596 to their ability 1411, and beyond 3844 their ability 1411, [they gave] of their own 830 accord 830,

 8:4 begging 1189a us with much 4183 urging 3874 for the favor 5485 of participation 2842 in the support 1248 of the saints 40,

 8:5 and [this], not as we had expected 1679, but they first 4413 gave 1325 themselves 1438 to the Lord 2962 and to us by the will 2307 of God 2316.

 8:6 So 3779 we urged 3870 Titus 5103 that as he had previously 4278 made 4278 a beginning 4278, so 3779 he would also 2532 complete 2005 in you this 3778 gracious 5485 work 5485 as well 2532.

 8:7 ¶ But just 5618 as you abound 4052 in everything 3956, in faith 4102 and utterance 3056 and knowledge 1108 and in all 3956 earnestness 4710 and in the love 26 we inspired 1537 in you, [see] that you abound 4052 in this 3778 gracious 5485 work 5485 also 2532.

 8:8 I am not speaking 3004 [this] as a command 2003, but as proving 1381a through 1223 the earnestness 4710 of others 2087 the sincerity 1103 of your love 26 also 2532.

 8:9 For you know 1097 the grace 5485 of our Lord 2962 Jesus 2424 Christ 5547, that though He was rich 4145, yet for your sake 1223 He became 4433 poor 4434, so 2443 that you through His poverty 4432 might become 4147 rich 4147.

 8:10 I give 1325 [my] opinion 1106 in this 3778 matter, for this 3778 is to your advantage 4851a, who 3748 were the first 4278 to begin 4278 a year 4070 ago 4070 not only 3440 to do 4160 [this], but also 2532 to desire 2309 [to do it].

 8:11 But now 3570 finish 2005 doing 4160 it also 2532, so 3779 that just 2509 as [there was] the readiness 4288 to desire 2309 it, so 3779 [there may be] also 2532 the completion 2005 of it by your ability 2192.

 8:12 For if 1487 the readiness 4288 is present 4295, it is acceptable 2144 according 2526 to what [a person] has 2192, not according 2526 to what he does not have 2192.

 8:13 For [this] is not for the ease 425 of others 243 [and] for your affliction 2347, but by way 1537 of equality 2471—

 8:14 at this 3588 present 3568 time 2540 your abundance 4051 [being a supply] for their need 5303, so 2443 that their abundance 4051 also 2532 may become 1096 [a supply] for your need 5303, that there may be equality 2471;

 8:15 as it is written 1125, “HE WHO [gathered] MUCH 4183 DID NOT HAVE 4121 TOO 4121 MUCH 4121, AND HE WHO [gathered] LITTLE 3641 HAD 1641 NO 3756 LACK 1641.”

 8:16 ¶ But thanks 5485 be to God 2316 who puts 1325 the same 846 earnestness 4710 on your behalf 5228 in the heart 2588 of Titus 5103.

 8:17 For he not only 3303a accepted 1209 our appeal 3874, but being 5225 himself 830 very earnest 4705, he has gone 1831 to you of his own 830 accord 830.

 8:18 We have sent 4842 along 4842 with him the brother 80 whose 3739 fame 1868 in [the things of] the gospel 2098 [has spread] through 1223 all 3956 the churches 1577;

 8:19 and not only 3440 [this], but he has also 2532 been appointed 5500 by the churches 1577 to travel 4898 with us in this 3778 gracious 5485 work 5485, which is being administered 1247 by us for the glory 1391 of the Lord 2962 Himself 846, and [to show] our readiness 4288,

 8:20 taking 4724 precaution 4724 so that no 3361 one 5100 will discredit 3469 us in our administration 1247 of this 3778 generous 100 gift 100;

 8:21 for we have 4306 regard 4306 for what is honorable 2570, not only 3440 in the sight 1799 of the Lord 2962, but also 2532 in the sight 1799 of men 444.

 8:22 We have sent 4842 with them our brother 80, whom 3739 we have often 4178 tested 1381a and found 1510 diligent 4705 in many 4183 things 4183, but now 3570 even 4183 more 4183 diligent 4705 because of [his] great 4183 confidence 4006 in you.

 8:23 As for Titus 5103, [he is] my partner 2844 and fellow 4904 worker 4904 among 1519 you; as for our brethren 80, [they are] messengers 652 of the churches 1577, a glory 1391 to Christ 5547.

 8:24 Therefore 3767 openly 4383 before 1519 4383 the churches 1577, show 1731 them the proof 1732 of your love 26 and of our reason 2746a for boasting 2746a about 5228 you.