1Now, brethren, we [wish to] make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
1弟兄們，我把神賜給馬其頓眾教會的恩告訴你們，
2that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.
2就是他們在患難中受大試煉的時候，仍有滿足的快樂，在極窮之間還格外顯出他們樂捐的厚恩。
3For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, [they gave] of their own accord,
3我可以證明，他們是按著力量，而且也過了力量，自己甘心樂意的捐助，
4begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,
4再三的求我們，准他們在這供給聖徒的恩情上有分；
5and [this], not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
5並且他們所做的，不但照我們所想望的，更照神的旨意先把自己獻給主，又歸附了我們。
6So we urged Titus that as he had previously made a beginning, so he would also complete in you this gracious work as well.
6因此我勸提多，既然在你們中間開辦這慈惠的事，就當辦成了。
7But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, [see] that you abound in this gracious work also.
7你們既然在信心、口才、知識、熱心，和待我們的愛心上，都格外顯出滿足來，就當在這慈惠的事上也格外顯出滿足來。
8I am not speaking [this] as a command, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity of your love also.
8我說這話，不是吩咐你們，乃是藉著別人的熱心試驗你們愛心的實在。
9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
9你們知道我們主耶穌基督的恩典：他本來富足，卻為你們成了貧窮，叫你們因他的貧窮，可以成為富足。
10I give [my] opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do [this], but also to desire [to do it].
10我在這事上把我的意見告訴你們，是與你們有益；因為你們下手辦這事，而且起此心意，已經有一年了，
11But now finish doing it also, so that just as [there was] the readiness to desire it, so [there] [may be] also the completion of it by your ability.
11如今就當辦成這事。既有願做的心，也當照你們所有的去辦成。
12For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what [a person] has, not according to what he does not have.
12因為人若有願做的心，必蒙悅納，乃是照他所有的，並不是照他所無的。
13For [this] is not for the ease of others [and] for your affliction, but by way of equality--
13我原不是要別人輕省，你們受累，
14at this present time your abundance [being a] [supply] for their need, so that their abundance also may become [a supply] for your need, that there may be equality;
14乃要均平，就是要你們的富餘，現在可以補他們的不足，使他們的富餘，將來也可以補你們的不足，這就均平了。
15as it is written, 'HE WHO [gathered] MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO [gathered] LITTLE HAD NO LACK.'
15如經上所記：多收的也沒有餘；少收的也沒有缺。
16But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus.
16多謝神，感動提多的心，叫他待你們殷勤，像我一樣。
17For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.
17他固然是聽了我的勸，但自己更是熱心，情願往你們那裡去。
18We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in [the things of] the gospel [has spread] through all the churches;
18我們還打發一位兄弟和他同去，這人在福音上得了眾教會的稱讚。
19and not only [this], but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and [to show] our readiness,
19不但這樣，他也被眾教會挑選，和我們同行，把所託與我們的這捐貲送到了，可以榮耀主，又表明我們樂意的心。
20taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift;
20這就免得有人因我們收的捐銀很多，就挑我們的不是。
21for we have regard for what is honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
21我們留心行光明的事，不但在主面前，就在人面前也是這樣。
22We have sent with them our brother, whom we have often tested and found diligent in many things, but now even more diligent because of [his] great confidence in you.
22我們又打發一位兄弟同去；這人的熱心，我們在許多事上屢次試驗過。現在他因為深信你們，就更加熱心了。
23As for Titus, [he is] my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, [they are] messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.
23論到提多，他是我的同伴，一同為你們勞碌的。論到那兩位兄弟，他們是眾教會的使者，是基督的榮耀。
24Therefore openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.
24所以，你們務要在眾教會面前顯明你們愛心的憑據，並我所誇獎你們的憑據。