2 Corinthians 8:8-15

Modern English Version

⁸I say this not as a command, but to prove through the authenticity of others, the sincerity also of your love. ⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that through His poverty you might be rich.

¹⁰And in this matter I give my advice. It is appropriate for you, who began last year not only to give, but also to willingly give. ¹¹Now therefore complete the task, so that, as there was a willingness to do so, there may be a performance of it according to your means. ¹²For if there is a willing mind first, the gift is accepted according to what a man possesses and not according to what he does not possess.

¹³I do not mean that other men have relief, and you be burdened, ¹⁴but for equality, that your abundance now at this time may supply their need, and their abundance may supply your need—that there may be equality. ¹⁵As it is written, “He who gathered much had no excess. And he who gathered little had no lack.”^[a]

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Footnotes

2 Corinthians 8:15 Ex 16:18.

2 Corinthians 8:8-15

New International Version

⁸I am not commanding you,^(A) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹For you know the grace^(B) of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(C) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,^(D) so that you through his poverty might become rich.^(E)

¹⁰And here is my judgment^(F) about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.^(G) ¹¹Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness^(H) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹²For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,^(I) not according to what one does not have.

¹³Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. ¹⁴At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,^(J) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, ¹⁵as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”^[a]^(K)