5. And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.
6. So that we begged Titus that, according as he had before begun, so he would also complete as to you this grace also;
7. but even as ye abound in every way, in faith, and word, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in love from you to us, that ye may abound in this grace also.
8. I do not speak as commanding it, but through the zeal of others, and proving the genuineness of your love.
9. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sakes he, being rich, became poor, in order that ye by his poverty might be enriched.
10. And I give my opinion in this, for this is profitable for you who began before, not only to do, but also to be willing, a year ago.
11. But now also complete the doing of it; so that as there was the readiness to be willing, so also to complete out of what ye have.
12. For if the readiness be there, a man is accepted according to what he may have, not according to what he has not.
13. For it is not in order that there may be ease for others, and for you distress,
14. but on the principle of equality; in the present time your abundance for their lack, that their abundance may be for your lack, so that there should be equality.
15. According as it is written, He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little was nothing short.
16. But thanks be to God, who gives the same diligent zeal for you in the heart of Titus.
17. For he received indeed the entreaty, but, being full of zeal, he went of his own accord to you;
18. but we have sent with him the brother whose praise is in the glad tidings through all the assemblies;
19. and not only so, but is also chosen by the assemblies as our fellow-traveller with this grace, ministered by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and a witness of our readiness;
20. avoiding this, that any one should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us;
21. for we provide for things honest, not only before the Lord, but also before men.