1And, my brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which was conferred on the churches of the Macedonians; 2that in the great trial of their affliction, there was an abounding to their joy, and the depth of their poverty was exuberant in the riches of their liberality. 3For I testify that, according to their ability, and beyond their ability, in the spontaneity of their mind, 4they besought us, with much entreaty, that they might participate in the beneficence of the ministration to the saints. 5And not only as we had expected, but they first gave themselves unto the Lord, and to us by the will of God. 6So that we requested Titus, that as he had begun, so he would perfect in you also the same beneficence. 7And as ye are enriched in every thing, in faith, and speech, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in our love towards you, so abound ye in this beneficence also. 8I do not actually command you, but by the promptitude of your fellow disciples, I would test the sincerity of your love. 9For ye know the goodness of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, who when he was rich, for your sakes became poor, that by his poverty ye might be made rich. 10And I urgently recommend to you, that which is for your advantage; inasmuch as ye began, a year ago, not only to purpose, but also to perform. 11And now complete ye by action, what ye purposed; that as ye had a promptitude in your purposing, so ye may fulfill it in action, according to your ability. 12For if there is a willingness, a person is accepted according to what he hath, and not according to what he hath not. 13For it is not, that others may have easement, and you pressure; 14but that ye may be on equality at the present time; and that your abundance may be a supply to their want; that their abundance likewise may be a supply to your want; that there may be equality. 15As it is written, He who gathered much, had nothing over; and he that gathered little, was not deficient. 16But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus this solicitude for you. 17For he received our exhortation; and, because he was very anxious, he cheerfully set out to visit you. 18And we also sent with him that our brother, whose praise in the gospel is in all the churches; 19inasmuch as he likewise had been expressly chosen by the churches, to accompany me with this beneficence which is ministered by us to the glory of God and to our cordiality. 20And we hereby guarded, that no one should cast censure on us, in respect to this abundance which is ministered by us. 21For we are attentive to things commendable, not only before God, but also before men. 22And we also sent with them that brother of ours, who hath often, and in many things, been proved diligent by us; and is now particularly diligent, from the great confidence he hath in you. 23And therefore, if Titus be inquired about, he is my associate and assistant among you: or if our other brethren, they are the legates of the churches of the Messiah's glory. 24Therefore exhibit ye to them, in the presence of all the churches, a demonstration of your love and of our glorying respecting you.