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

10 I am giving you my opinion on this matter because it will be helpful to you. Last year you were not only willing to do something, but had already started to do it. 11 Now finish what you began, so that your eagerness to do so may be matched by your eagerness[a] to complete it. 12 For if the eagerness is there, the gift[b] is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you do not have.

13 Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness. 14 At the present time, your surplus fills their need, so that their surplus may fill your need. In this way things are fair. 15 As it is written,

“The person who had much did not have too much,
    and the person who had little did not have too little.”[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:11 Lit. matched as you contribute from what you have
  2. 2 Corinthians 8:12 Lit. it
  3. 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exod 16:18