2 Corinthians 8:8-15

New King James Version

Christ Our Pattern

⁸^(A)I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. ⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(B)that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become ^(C)rich.

¹⁰And in this ^(D)I give advice: ^(E)It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and ^(F)were desiring to do a year ago; ¹¹but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. ¹²For ^(G)if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

¹³For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; ¹⁴but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. ¹⁵As it is written, ^(H)“He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”

Read full chapter

2 Corinthians 8:8-15

Young's Literal Translation

⁸not according to command do I speak, but because of the diligence of others, and of your love proving the genuineness,

⁹for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that because of you he became poor -- being rich, that ye by that poverty may become rich.

¹⁰and an opinion in this do I give: for this to you [is] expedient, who not only to do, but also to will, did begin before -- a year ago,

¹¹and now also finish doing [it], that even as [there is] the readiness of the will, so also the finishing, out of that which ye have,

¹²for if the willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath not;

¹³for not that for others release, and ye pressured, [do I speak,]

¹⁴but by equality, at the present time your abundance -- for their want, that also their abundance may be for your want, that there may be equality,

¹⁵according as it hath been written, `He who [did gather] much, had nothing over; and he who [did gather] little, had no lack.'

Read full chapter

2 Corinthians 8:8-15

New American Standard Bible

⁸I ^(A)am not saying this as a command, but as proving, through the earnestness of others, the sincerity of your love as well. ⁹For you know ^(B)the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^(C)though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. ¹⁰I ^(D)give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin ^(E)a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it. ¹¹But now finish ^[a]doing it also, so that just as there was the ^(F)willingness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability. ¹²For if the willingness is present, it is acceptable ^(G)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³For this is not for the relief of others and for your hardship, but by way of equality— ¹⁴at this present time your abundance will serve as assistance for ^(H)their need, so that their abundance also may ^[b]serve as assistance for ^(I)your need, so that there may be equality; ¹⁵as it is written: “^(J)The one who had gathered much did not have too much, and the one who had gathered little did not have too little.”