2 Corinthians 8

1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia:

γνωριζω δε υμιν, αδελφοι, την χαριν του θεου την δεδομενην εν ταις εκκλησιαις της μακεδονιας,

2that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality.

οτι εν πολλη δοκιμη θλιψεως η περισσεια της χαρας αυτων και η κατα βαθους πτωχεια αυτων επερισσευσεν εις τον πλουτον της απλοτητος αυτων·

3For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing,

οτι κατα δυναμιν, μαρτυρω, και υπερ δυναμιν, αυθαιρετοι,

4imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

μετα πολλης παρακλησεως δεομενοι ημων την χαριν και την κοινωνιαν της διακονιας της εις τους αγιους,

5And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

και ου καθως ηλπισαμεν, αλλ εαυτους εδωκαν πρωτον τω κυριω και ημιν δια θεληματος θεου,

6So we urged Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also complete this grace in you as well.

εις το παρακαλεσαι ημας τιτον, ινα καθως προενηρξατο ουτως και επιτελεση εις υμας και την χαριν ταυτην.

7But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also.

αλλ ωσπερ εν παντι περισσευετε, πιστει και λογω και γνωσει και παση σπουδη και τη εξ υμων εν ημιν αγαπη, ινα και εν ταυτη τη χαριτι περισσευητε.

8I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

ου κατ επιταγην λεγω, αλλα δια της ετερων σπουδης και το της υμετερας αγαπης γνησιον δοκιμαζων·

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.

γινωσκετε γαρ την χαριν του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου, οτι δι υμας επτωχευσεν πλουσιος ων, ινα υμεις τη εκεινου πτωχεια πλουτησητε.

10And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;

και γνωμην εν τουτω διδωμι· τουτο γαρ υμιν συμφερει, οιτινες ου μονον το ποιησαι, αλλα και το θελειν προενηρξασθε απο περυσι·

11but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

νυνι δε και το ποιησαι επιτελεσατε, οπως καθαπερ η προθυμια του θελειν, ουτως και το επιτελεσαι εκ του εχειν.

12For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

ει γαρ η προθυμια προκειται, καθο εαν εχη τις ευπροσδεκτος, ου καθο ουκ εχει.

13For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

ου γαρ ινα αλλοις ανεσις, υμιν δε θλιψις, αλλ εξ ισοτητος εν τω νυν καιρω το υμων περισσευμα εις το εκεινων υστερημα,

14but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.

ινα και το εκεινων περισσευμα γενηται εις το υμων υστερημα, οπως γενηται ισοτης,

15As it is written, 'He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.'

καθως γεγραπται· ο το πολυ ουκ επλεονασεν, και ο το ολιγον ουκ ηλαττονησεν.

16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus.

χαρις δε τω θεω τω διδοντι την αυτην σπουδην υπερ υμων εν τη καρδια τιτου,

17For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.

οτι την μεν παρακλησιν εδεξατο, σπουδαιοτερος δε υπαρχων αυθαιρετος εξηλθεν προς υμας.

18And we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches,

συνεπεμψαμεν δε μετ αυτου τον αδελφον ου ο επαινος εν τω ευαγγελιω δια πασων των εκκλησιων· —

19and not only that, but who was also chosen by the churches to travel with us with this gift, which is administered by us to the glory of the Lord Himself and to show your ready mind,

ου μονον δε, αλλα και χειροτονηθεις υπο των εκκλησιων συνεκδημος ημων συν τη χαριτι ταυτη τη διακονουμενη υφ ημων προς την αυτου του κυριου δοξαν και προθυμιαν ημων· —

20avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us—

στελλομενοι τουτο, μη τις ημας μωμησηται εν τη αδροτητι ταυτη τη διακονουμενη υφ ημων,

21providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.

προνοουμενοι καλα ου μονον ενωπιον κυριου, αλλα και ενωπιον ανθρωπων.

22And we have sent with them our brother whom we have often proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, because of the great confidence which we have in you.

συνεπεμψαμεν δε αυτοις τον αδελφον ημων, ον εδοκιμασαμεν εν πολλοις πολλακις σπουδαιον οντα, νυνι δε πολυ σπουδαιοτερον πεποιθησει πολλη τη εις υμας.

23If anyone inquires about Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker concerning you. Or if our brethren are inquired about, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ.

ειτε υπερ τιτου, κοινωνος εμος και εις υμας συνεργος· ειτε αδελφοι ημων, αποστολοι εκκλησιων, δοξα χριστου.

24Therefore show to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love and of our boasting on your behalf.

την ουν ενδειξιν της αγαπης υμων και ημων καυχησεως υπερ υμων εις αυτους ενδειξασθε εις προσωπον των εκκλησιων.