慷慨的捐助
弟兄们，我们要把神赐给马其顿众教会的恩惠告诉你们：
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2他们在患难中受大考验的时候，仍然满有喜乐，在极度贫穷中还格外显出他们乐捐的慷慨。How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3我可以证明，他们是按着能力，而且超过了能力来捐助，主动For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4再三恳求我们，准他们在这供给圣徒的善事上有份；Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5并且他们所做的，不但照我们所期望的，更照神的旨意先把自己献给主，又给了我们。And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
6因此，我们劝提多，既然在你们中间开始这慈善的事，就当把它办成。Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7既然你们在信心、口才、知识、万分的热忱，以及我们对你们☛有古卷是“你们对我们”。的爱心上，都胜人一等，那么，当在这慈善的事上也要胜人一等。Therefore, 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.
8我说这话，并不是命令你们，而是藉着别人的热忱来考验你们爱心的真诚。I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.
9你们知道我们主耶稣基督的恩典：他本是富足，却为你们成了贫穷，好使你们因他的贫穷而成为富足。For 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.
10我在这事上把我的意见告诉你们，是对你们有益，因为你们开始办这事，而且起此心意已经有一年了。And 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.
11如今就当办成这事，既然有愿做的心，也当照你们所有的去办成。Now 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.
12因为人只要有愿做的心，必照他所有的蒙悦纳，并不是照他所没有的。For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.
13我不是要别人轻松，你们受累，而是要均匀：For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:
14就是要你们现在的富余补他们的不足，使他们的富余将来也可以补你们的不足，这就均匀了。But 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:
15如经上所记： 多收的没有余， 少收的也没有缺。提多和他的同工
As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
16感谢神，把我对你们的热忱同样放在提多心里。But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.
17他固然听了我的劝告，但自己更加热心，自愿往你们那里去。For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.
18我们还差遣一位弟兄和他同去，这人在传福音的事上得了众教会的称赞；And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches;
19不但这样，他也被众教会选派跟我们同行，把所交托我们的这捐款送到了，为的是荣耀主，也表明我们的好意。And 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:
20我们这样做，免得有人因我们收的捐款多而挑剔我们。Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:
21我们留心做好事，不但在主面前，就是在人面前也是这样。Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
22我们又差遣一位弟兄同去。这人的热忱，我们在许多事上屡次考验过，现在他因为深深信任你们，就更加热心了。And 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.
23至于提多，他是我的伙伴，为服事你们作我的同工。至于那两位弟兄，他们是众教会的使者，是基督的荣耀。Whether 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.
24所以，你们务要在众教会面前向他们显明你们的爱心和我所夸奖你们的凭据。Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.