1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. 6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15 As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. 16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. 17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. 18 And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 19 And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: 20 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: 21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. 23 Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. 24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.

1 En ons maak julle bekend, broeders, die genade van God wat aan die gemeentes van Macedonië geskenk is,

2 dat onder baie beproewing deur verdrukking hulle oorvloedige blydskap by hulle diepe armoede oorvloedig was in hulle ryke milddadigheid.

3 Want hulle was na vermoë -- ek betuig dit -- ja, bo vermoë gewillig,

4 en het ons met groot aandrang gesmeek dat ons hulle gawe en hulle deel in die diensbetoning aan die heiliges moet ontvang;

5 en het nie alleen gedoen soos ons verwag het nie, maar het hulself eers aan die Here gegee, en toe aan ons deur die wil van God,

6 sodat ons Titus versoek het dat hy, net soos hy tevore begin het, so ook by julle nog hierdie liefdedaad moet volbring.

7 Maar soos julle in alles oorvloedig is -- in geloof en woord en kennis en alle ywer en in julle liefde vir ons -- sorg dat julle ook in hierdie liefdedaad oorvloedig is.

8 Ek sê dit nie as 'n bevel nie, maar om deur die ywer van ander ook die egtheid van julle liefde op die proef te stel.

9 Want julle ken die genade van onse Here Jesus Christus, dat Hy, alhoewel Hy ryk was, ter wille van julle arm geword het, sodat julle deur sy armoede ryk kan word.

10 En ek gee in hierdie saak my oordeel, want dit is voordelig vir julle, omdat julle alreeds 'n jaar gelede begin het, nie alleen om te doen nie, maar ook om te wil.

11 Maar voltooi nou die daad ook, sodat, net soos die bereidheid om te wil daar was, so ook die voltooiing kan wees uit wat julle besit.

12 Want as die bereidwilligheid daar is, is dit welgevallig volgens wat iemand besit, nie volgens wat hy nie besit nie.

13 Want ek bedoel nie dat daar vir ander verligting moet wees en vir julle verdrukking nie,

14 maar dat volgens gelykheid julle oorvloed in hierdie tyd hulle gebrek kan aanvul, sodat ook hulle oorvloed julle gebrek kan aanvul en daar gelykheid kan wees.

15 Soos geskrywe is: Hy wat baie gehad het, het nie te veel gehad nie; en hy wat weinig gehad het, het nie te min gehad nie.

16 Maar God sy dank, wat dieselfde ywer vir julle in die hart van Titus gegee het;

17 want hy het my aansporing wel ontvang, maar omdat hy baie ywerig was, het hy uit eie beweging na julle toe vertrek.

18 En ons het ook met hom die broeder saamgestuur wat lof het in die evangelie deur al die gemeentes.

19 En dit nie alleen nie, maar hy is ook deur die gemeentes gekies as ons reisgenoot in verband met hierdie liefdewerk wat deur ons berei word, tot die heerlikheid van die Here self en as bewys van julle bereidwilligheid,

20 om te voorkom dat iemand ons sou belaster in verband met hierdie groot bydrae wat deur ons berei word.

21 Want ons bedink wat goed is nie alleen voor die Here nie, maar ook voor die mense.

22 En ons het met hulle saamgestuur ons broeder wat ons dikwels in baie dinge beproef gevind het, dat hy ywerig is en nou baie yweriger deur sy groot vertroue in julle.

23 Wat nou Titus betref, hy is my metgesel en medewerker by julle; of ons broeders, hulle is afgesante van die gemeentes, 'n eer vir Christus.

24 Gee dan aan hulle die bewys van julle liefde en van ons roem oor julle, ook voor die gemeentes.