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10 And I give counsel in this thing; for this is profitable to you, that not only have begun to do, but also ye began to have will from the former year [but and to desire from the former year].

11 But now [Now forsooth] perform ye in deed, that as the discretion of will is ready [to desire good], so be it also of performing of that that ye have.

12 For if the will be ready, it is accepted after that that it hath, not after that that it hath not.

13 And not that it be remission to other men[a], and to you tribulation;

14 but of evenness in the present time your abundance fulfill the need of them, that also the abundance of them be a fulfilling of your need, that evenness be made; [but of evenness, in this present time your abundance fulfill the mis-ease of them, that and the abundance of them be supplement, or fulfilling, of your mis-ease, or need, that evenness be made;]

15 as it is written, He that [hath] gathered much, was not increased, and he that [had] gathered little, had not less.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:13 Forsooth not that it be remission, or idleness/or sloth, to other men

10 And I give counsel in the matter because to do this is proper for you, who began not only to do, but also to will, a year ago. 11 Now therefore perform the deed, so that as there was in you a ready willingness, so also you follow through, out of what you have. 12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what a person has, and not according to what he does not have.

13 It is not my mind that others be set at ease and you be burdened, 14 but, so that there be equality now at this time, that your abundance may relieve their lack, and that their abundance also hereafter may supply your lack – so that there may be equality, 15 agreeing to that which is written: He who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack.

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10 [a]And I show my mind herein: for this is expedient for you, which have begun not to do only, but also to [b]will, a year ago.

11 Now therefore perform to do it also, that as there was a readiness to will, even so ye may perform it of that which ye have.

12 [c]For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

13 [d]Neither is it that other men should be eased and you grieved: But upon [e]like condition, at this time your abundance supplieth their lack:

14 That also their abundance may be for your lack, that there may be equality.

15 As it is written, (A)He that gathered much, had nothing over, and he that gathered little, had not the less.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:10 He taketh good heed that he seem not to wrest it out of them by constraint, for unless it be voluntary, God doth not accept it.
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:10 Not only to do, but also to do willingly: for he noteth out a ready willingness without any enforcement by any other men; much less came it of ambition and vainglory.
  3. 2 Corinthians 8:12 Against such as use to excuse themselves, because they are not rich, as though it were only proper to rich men to help the poor.
  4. 2 Corinthians 8:13 Christian liberality is mutual, that proportion may be ob-served.
  5. 2 Corinthians 8:13 That like as now in your abundance you help others, which are poor, with some part of your goods, so should others in like sort bestow some of theirs upon you.

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 willing mind, 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 abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 15 as it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.

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10 And here is my judgment(A) 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.(B) 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness(C) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,(D) not according to what one does not have.

13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,(E) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as 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](F)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18