1 But we make known to you, brethren, the grace of God bestowed in the assemblies of Macedonia;
2 that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty has abounded to the riches of their {free-hearted} liberality.
3 For according to {their} power, I bear witness, and beyond {their} power, {they were} willing of their own accord,
4 begging of us with much entreaty {to give effect to} the grace and fellowship of the service which {was to be rendered} to the saints.
5 And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.
6 So that we begged Titus that, according as he had before begun, so he would also complete as to you this grace also;
7 but even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.
8 I do not speak as commanding {it}, but through the zeal of others, and proving the genuineness of your love.
9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that *ye* by *his* poverty might be enriched.
10 And I give {my} opinion in this, for this is profitable for you who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.
11 But now also complete the doing of it; so that as {there was} the readiness to be willing, so also to complete out of what ye have.
12 For if the readiness be there, {a man is} accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he has not.
13 For {it is} not in order that there may be ease for others, and for you distress,
14 but {on the principle} of equality; in the present time your abundance for their lack, that their abundance may be for your lack, so that there should be equality.
15 According as it is written, He who {gathered} much had no excess, and he who {gathered} little was nothing short.
16 But thanks {be} to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in the heart of Titus.
17 For he received indeed the entreaty, but, being full of zeal, he went of his own accord to you;
18 but we have sent with him the brother whose praise {is} in the glad tidings through all the assemblies;
19 and not only {so}, but {is} also chosen by the assemblies as our fellow-traveller with this grace, ministered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and {a witness of} our readiness;
20 avoiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance {which is} administered by us;
21 for we provide for things honest, not only before {the} Lord, but also before men.
22 And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved to be of diligent zeal in many things, and now more diligently zealous through the great confidence {he has} as to you.
23 Whether as regards Titus, {he is} my companion and fellow-labourer in your behalf; or our brethren, {they are} deputed messengers of assemblies, Christ's glory.
24 Shew therefore to them, before the assemblies, the proof of your love, and of our boasting about you.
1 弟兄们， 我现在把 神赐给马其顿众教会的恩典告诉你们：
2 他们在患难中受到极大的考验的时候， 他们满溢的喜乐和极度的贫乏， 汇流出丰厚的慷慨来。
3 我可以作证， 他们是按着能力， 并且是超过了能力，
4 自动地再三恳求我们， 准许他们在供应圣徒的事上有分。
5 他们超过了我们所期望的， 照着 神的旨意， 先把自己献给主， 然后献给我们。
6 因此， 我们勉励提多， 既然开始了这慈善的事， 就应当在你们那里把这事办好。
7 你们在一切事上， 就如信心、口才、知识、热情和爱我们的心， 既然都是富足的， 那么， 在这慈善的事上， 也要显出你们是富足的。
8 我这样说， 不是吩咐你们， 而是借着别人的热心来考验你们的爱心是否真实。
9 你们是知道我们的主耶稣基督的恩典的： 他本来富足， 却为你们成了贫穷， 要使你们因他的贫穷成为富足。
10 我在这里表示我的意见， 这对你们是有益的： 你们不仅一年前就在办这事， 而且早就想这样作了，
11 现在就应当把这事办好； 这样， 你们既然有愿意作的心， 因着你们尽了自己所能的， 就可以完成。
12 因为人要是有愿意作的心， 按照他所有的， 必蒙悦纳， 不是按照他所没有的。
13 这不是要别人轻省， 你们受累， 而是要大家都均等。
14 现在你们富裕， 就要补助他们的缺乏， 到了他们富裕的时候， 也可以补助你们的缺乏， 这样就均等了；
15 正如经上所记： "多的， 没有剩余， 少的， 也不缺乏。"
16 感谢 神， 他把我对你们那样的热情， 放在提多的心里。
17 提多一方面接受了劝勉， 但他自己更加热心， 自愿到你们那里去。
18 我们还派了一位弟兄和他同去， （这人在福音的事工上， 得到了众教会的称赞。
19 不但这样， 众教会更选派了他作我们的旅伴。我们办理这慈善的事， 是为了主的荣耀， 也是为了我们的心愿。）
20 免得有人因为我们经管的捐款太多， 就毁谤我们。
21 因为我们努力去作的， 不仅是主认为是美的事， 也是众人认为是美的事。
22 我们还派了另一位弟兄与他们同去； 我们在许多的事上多次考验过他， 知道他很热心； 现在他对你们大有信心， 就更加热心了。
23 至于提多， 他是我的同伴， 为你们的缘故作了我的同工； 还有我们那两位弟兄， 他们是众教会所派的， 是基督的荣耀。
24 所以， 你们要在众教会面前， 向他们证明你们的爱心和我们所夸耀你们的。