2 Corintios 8
Bible in Basic English
1And now we give you news, brothers, about the grace of God which has been given to the churches of Macedonia;
2How while they were undergoing every sort of trouble, and were in the greatest need, they took all the greater joy in being able to give freely to the needs of others.
3For I give them witness, that as they were able, and even more than they were able, they gave from the impulse of their hearts,
4Seriously requesting us that they might have a part in this grace of being servants to the needs of the saints:
5And going even farther than our hope, they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us after the purpose of God.
6So that we made a request to Titus that, as he had made a start before, so he might make this grace complete in you.
7And that as you are full of every good thing, of faith, of the word, of knowledge, of a ready mind, and of love to us, so you may be full of this grace in the same way.
8I am not giving you an order, but using the ready mind of others as a test of the quality of your love.
9For you see the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, how though he had wealth, he became poor on your account, so that through his need you might have wealth.
10And in this I give my opinion: for it is to your profit, who were the first to make a start a year before, not only to do this, but to make clear that your minds were more than ready to do it.
11Then make the doing of it complete; so that as you had a ready mind, you may give effect to it as you are able.
12For if there is a ready mind, a man will have God's approval in the measure of what he has, and not of what he has not.
13And I am not saying this so that others may get off free, while the weight comes on you:
14But so that things may be equal; that from those things of which you have more than enough at the present time their need may be helped, and that if you are in any need they may be a help to you in the same way, making things equal.
15As it says in the Writings, He who had taken up much had nothing over and he who had little had enough.
16But praise be to God, who puts the same care for you into the heart of Titus.
17For while he gladly gave ear to our request, he was interested enough to go to you from the impulse of his heart.
18And with him we have sent a brother whose praise in the good news has gone through all the churches;
19And not only so, but he was marked out by the churches to go with us in the grace of this giving which we have undertaken to the glory of the Lord and to make clear that our mind was ready:
20And so that no man might be able to say anything against us in the business of this giving which has been put into our hands:
21For the business has been so ordered by us as to have the approval, not only of the Lord, but of men.
22And we have sent with them our brother, whose ready spirit has been made clear to us at times and in ways without number, but it is now all the more so because of the certain faith which he has in you.
23If any question comes up about Titus, he is my brother-worker, working with me for you; or about the others, they are the representatives of the churches to the glory of Christ.
24Make clear then to them, as representatives of the churches, the quality of your love, and that the things which we have said about you are true.
Reina-Valera 1909
1ASIMISMO, hermanos, os hacemos saber la gracia de Dios que ha sido dada á las iglesias de Macedonia:
2Que en grande prueba de tribulación, la abundancia de su gozo y su profunda pobreza abundaron en riquezas de su bondad.
3Pues de su grado han dado conforme á sus fuerzas, yo testifico, y aun sobre sus fuerzas;
4Pidiéndonos con muchos ruegos, que aceptásemos la gracia y la comunicación del servicio para los santos.
5Y no como lo esperábamos, mas aun á sí mismos se dieron primeramente al Señor, y á nosotros por la voluntad de Dios.
6De manera que exhortamos á Tito, que como comenzó antes, así también acabe esta gracia entre vosotros también.
7Por tanto, como en todo abundáis, en fe, y en palabra, y en ciencia, y en toda solicitud, y en vuestro amor para con nosotros, que también abundéis en esta gracia.
8No hablo como quien manda, sino para poner á prueba, por la eficacia de otros, la sinceridad también de la caridad vuestra.
9Porque ya sabéis la gracia de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que por amor de vosotros se hizo pobre, siendo rico; para que vosotros con su pobreza fueseis enriquecidos.
10Y en esto doy mi consejo; porque esto os conviene á vosotros, que comenzasteis antes, no sólo á hacerlo, mas aun á quererlo desde el año pasado.
11Ahora pues, llevad también á cabo el hecho, para que como estuvisteis prontos á querer, así también lo estéis en cumplir conforme á lo que tenéis.
12Porque si primero hay la voluntad pronta, será acepta por lo que tiene, no por lo que no tiene.
13Porque no digo esto para que haya para otros desahogo, y para vosotros apretura;
14Sino para que en este tiempo, con igualdad, vuestra abundancia supla la falta de ellos, para que también la abundancia de ellos supla vuestra falta, porque haya igualdad;
15Como está escrito: El que recogió mucho, no tuvo más; y el que poco, no tuvo menos.
16Empero gracias á Dios que dió la misma solicitud por vosotros en el corazón de Tito.
17Pues á la verdad recibió la exhortación; mas estando también muy solícito, de su voluntad partió para vosotros.
18Y enviamos juntamente con él al hermano cuya alabanza en el evangelio es por todas las iglesias;
19Y no sólo esto, mas también fué ordenado por las iglesias el compañero de nuestra peregrinación para llevar esta gracia, que es administrada de nosotros para gloria del mismo Señor, y para demostrar vuestro pronto ánimo:
20Evitando que nadie nos vitupere en esta abundancia que ministramos;
21Procurando las cosas honestas, no sólo delante del Señor, mas aun delante de los hombres.
22Enviamos también con ellos á nuestro hermano, al cual muchas veces hemos experimentado diligente, mas ahora mucho más con la mucha confianza que tiene en vosotros.
23Ora en orden á Tito, es mi compañero y coadjutor para con vosotros; ó acerca de nuestros hermanos, los mensajeros son de las iglesias, y la gloria de Cristo.
24Mostrad pues, para con ellos á la faz de las iglesias la prueba de vuestro amor, y de nuestra gloria acerca de vosotros.
King James Version
1Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
6Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7Therefore, 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.
8I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9For 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.
10And 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.
11Now 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.
12For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14But 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:
15As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
16But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
19And 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:
20Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22And 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.
23Whether 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.
24Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
World English Bible
1Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,
2how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity.
3For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
4begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.
5This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
6So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace.
7But 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.
8I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love.
9For 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.
10I 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.
11But 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.
12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.
13For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,
14but 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.
15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
16But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.
17For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord.
18We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies.
19Not 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.
20We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us.
21Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22We 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.
23As 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.
24Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.