¹⁴ while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

¹⁴ and ^(A)the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the ^(B)faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

4 Therefore, my brothers,^[a] whom I love and ^(A)long for, ^(B)my joy and ^(C)crown, ^(D)stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

⁶ Accordingly, ^(A)we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you ^(B)this act of grace. ⁷ But as ^(C)you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you^[a]—^(D)see that you excel in this act of grace also.

¹⁶ May the Lord grant mercy to ^(A)the household of Onesiphorus, for he often ^(B)refreshed me and was not ashamed of ^(C)my chains, ¹⁷ but when he arrived in Rome ^(D)he searched for me earnestly and found me— ¹⁸ may the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on ^(E)that day!—and you well know all the service he ^(F)rendered at Ephesus.

¹⁸ I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, ^(A)having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, ^(B)a fragrant offering, ^(C)a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹ And my God ^(D)will supply every need of yours ^(E)according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

⁸ For ^(A)God is my witness, ^(B)how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Encouragement to Give Generously

8 We want you to know, brothers,^[a] about the grace of God that has been ^(A)given among the churches of Macedonia,

²⁶ for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.