The Second Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

 1 Moreover, brethren, ^awe do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;

 2 How that in a great ^atrial of ^baffliction the abundance of their joy and their deep ^cpoverty abounded unto the riches of their ^dliberality.

 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;

 4 Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the ^afellowship of the ministering to the saints.

 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first ^agave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

 6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

 7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all ^adiligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.

 8 I speak ^anot by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the ^bsincerity of your love.

 9 For ye know the ^agrace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was ^brich, yet for your sakes he became ^cpoor, that ye through his ^dpoverty might be rich.

 10 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 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 For if there be first a ^awilling ^bmind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

 13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

 14 But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their ^aabundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be ^bequality:

 15 As it is written, He that had ^agathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

 16 But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you.

 17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

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

 19 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 Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us:

 21 Providing for ^ahonest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the ^bsight of men.

 22 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 ^aconfidence which I have in you.

 23 Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.

 24 Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.