^8:1 Now brethren, we are making known to you^° the grace of God which has been given in the congregations^* of Macedonia; ^8:2 because the abundance of the joy in much trial of affliction and according-to the depth of their poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality. ^8:3 I testify, that according-to their power, and yet beyond their power, and their self-preference, ^8:4 they were beseeching from us, with much pleading, to help in the favor and the fellowship of the service of relief to the holy-ones. ^8:5 And, not only as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us through the will of God, ^{8:6 *}that^* we might encourage Titus, in-order-that just-as he made a beginning, so he might also complete this favor in you^°. ^8:7 But just-like you^° are abounding in everything, in faith and in word and in knowledge and in all diligence and in the love^* from you^° to us, see that^* you^° also may abound in this favor. ^8:8 I do not speak according-to a commandment, but through the diligence of others and testing the genuineness of your^° love^*. ^8:9 For^* you^° know the favor of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though being rich, yet he became-poor because of you^°, in-order-that you^° might be enriched through that poverty. ^8:10 And I give my viewpoint in this; for^* this is advantageous for you^°, who made a beginning from the past-year, not only to do^* this, but also to will it. ^8:11 But now also, complete^° the doing^* of it; ^*that just-as there was the eagerness to wish it, so also to complete it out-of what you^° have. ^8:12 For^* if the eagerness lays before you^°, according-to whatever someone has, it is acceptable, not according-to what he does not have. ^8:13 For^* I do not say that^* there should be relief to others but affliction to you^°, but from equality, your^° abundance in the current time is ^*for their lack, ^8:14 in-order-that their abundance may also become ^*for your^° lack, ^*that it may become equality, ^8:15 as it has been written, ‘He who gathered much did not increase, and he who gathered few did not have less.’ {Exo 16:18}

      ^8:16 But gratitude is to God, who is giving the same diligent-aid in the heart of Titus on your^° behalf, ^8:17 because he indeed accepted the encouragement, but being^* more diligent, he went forth to you^° (his self-preference). ^8:18 Now we sent together with him the brother, the one whose praise in the good-news is known through all the congregations^*. ^8:19 And not only in this, but also, he was assigned by the congregations^* to be our fellow traveling-associate together-with this favor, which is served by us to the glory of the same Lord and to show our eagerness. ^8:20 We are avoiding this thing, lest anyone might blame us in the matter of this lavish donation which is served by us; ^8:21 planning-for good things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. ^8:22 Now we sent our brother together-with them, whom we proved often, many times as being diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, by the large confidence which he has in you^°. ^8:23 If anyone inquires in regard to Titus, whether our brethren, the ambassadors^* of the congregations^* (a glory of Christ), he is my partner and my fellow worker ^*for you^°. ^8:24 Therefore, show^° yourselves to them in the face of the congregations^*, the example of your^° love^* and of our boasting on your^° behalf.