1 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia, 2 how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity. 3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, 4 begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints. 5 This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. 6 So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.

8 I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. 9 For 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. 10 I give advice in this: it is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing. 11 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. 12 For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have. 13 For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed, 14 but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack, that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."

16 But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17 For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord. 18 We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies. 19 Not only so, but he was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness. 20 We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us. 21 Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22 We have sent with them our brother whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ. 24 Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, 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.