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¹ And we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God, that has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia,² because in much trial of tribulation the abundance of their joy, and their deep poverty, abounded to the riches of their liberality;³ because, according to [their] power, I testify, and above [their] power, they were willing of themselves,⁴ with much plea calling on us to receive the favor and the fellowship of the ministry to the holy ones,⁵ and not according as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the LORD, and to us, through the will of God,⁶ so that we exhorted Titus, that, according as he began before, so also he may also finish this favor to you,

⁷ but even as in everything you abound, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, that also in this grace you may abound;⁸ I do not speak according to command, but because of the diligence of others, and proving the genuineness of your love,⁹ for you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that because of you He became poor—being rich, that you may become rich by that poverty.¹⁰ And I give an opinion in this: for this [is] expedient to you, who not only to do, but also to will, began before—a year ago,¹¹ and now also finish doing [it], that even as [there is] the readiness of the will, so also the finishing, out of that which you have,¹² for if the willing mind is present, it is well-accepted according to that which anyone may have, not according to that which he does not have;¹³ for I do not speak that for others [to be] released, and you pressured,¹⁴ but by equality, at the present time your abundance—for their want, that also their abundance may be for your want, that there may be equality,¹⁵ according as it has been written: "He who [gathered] much, had nothing over; and he who [gathered] little, had no lack."

¹⁶ And thanks to God, who is putting the same diligence for you in the heart of Titus,¹⁷ because he indeed accepted the exhortation, and being more diligent, he went forth to you of his own accord,¹⁸ and we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the good news [is] through all the assemblies,¹⁹ and not only so, but who was also appointed by vote by the assemblies, our fellow-traveler, with this favor that is ministered by us, to the glory of the same Lord, and your willing mind;²⁰ avoiding this, lest anyone may blame us in this abundance that is ministered by us,²¹ providing right things, not only before the LORD, but also before men;²² and we sent our brother with them, whom we proved being diligent many times in many things, and now much more diligent, by the great confidence that is toward you,²³ whether—about Titus—my partner and fellow-worker toward you, whether—our brothers, apostles of assemblies—glory of Christ;²⁴ the showing therefore of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf, show to them, even in the face of the assemblies.