The Collection for the Lord’s People
1And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
10And here is my judgment 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. 11Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
13Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”8:15 Exodus 16:18
Titus Sent to Receive the Collection
16Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.
22In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.
Ayamye
1Anuanom, yɛpɛ sɛ muhu nea Onyankopɔn adom ayɛ wɔ Makedonia asafo ahorow no mu. 2Wɔn ahokyere mu no wɔn anigye boroo so, na wɔn hia mu mpo, wuyii ayamye kɛse kyerɛe. 3Midi ho adanse sɛ wɔmaa nea wobetumi ma ɛboroo so mpo. Wɔn ara fii wɔn pɛ mu 4srɛɛ yɛn sɛ yɛmma wɔmfa sika no nkɔma Kristofo a wɔwɔ Yudea no bi. 5Wɔyɛ ma ɛboroo so. Nea edi kan no, wɔde wɔn ho maa Awurade. Afei wofi Onyankopɔn pɛ mu de wɔn ho maa yɛn nso. 6Enti yɛka kyerɛɛ Tito a ofii adwuma yi ase se ɔntoa so na ɔmmoa mo na moatumi awie saa ɔdɔ adwuma yi. 7Moyɛ adefo wɔ nea mowɔ nyinaa mu: ɔkasa mu ne nimdeɛ mu, mmoa a ɛyɛ mo pɛ sɛ moboa ne ɔdɔ a mode dɔ yɛn mu. Enti yɛpɛ sɛ mode ahofama som wɔ ɔdɔ mu.
8Merenhyehyɛ mmara mma mo. Na mmom mepɛ sɛ mede mo dɔ a mowɔ no toto afoforo de ho hwɛ sɛ mo dɔ no yɛ ɔdɔ kann ana. 9Munim adom a na yɛn Awurade Yesu Kristo wɔ. Ɔdefo a na ɔyɛ no nyinaa akyi no, mo nti ɔyɛɛ ne ho ohiani sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a ɔnam ne hia no so bɛma moayɛ adefo.
10Mʼadwene a mewɔ wɔ asɛm no ho ni: Afe a etwaa mu no, mo na mudii kan fii mo pɛ mu yɛɛ ayɛ. 11Monkɔ so na munnwie dwuma no di. Mommma mo ho mpere mo sɛ mubewie sɛnea mususuwii sɛ mobɛyɛ no. 12Sɛ wo ho pere wo sɛ wobɛma a, Onyankopɔn nam nea wowɔ so begye, na ɛnyɛ nea wunni so.
13Merennye nkurɔfo nnesoa mmegu mo so na mmom, esiane sɛ mowɔ bebree saa bere yi mu no nti, ɛyɛ fɛ sɛ moboa wɔn a wonni bi no. 14Na sɛ ɛba sɛ biribi ho hia mo na sɛ wɔwɔ bi a, wɔaboa mo. Eyi ma mo nyinaa yɛ pɛ. 15Sɛnea Kyerɛwsɛm no ka se, “Onipa a ɔboaboaa dodow ano no annya ammoro so, na nea ɔboaboaa kakraa bi ano no nyaa nea ɛbɛso no.”
16Yɛda Onyankopɔn ase sɛ wama anigye a mewɔ wɔ mo ho no bi awura Tito koma mu. 17Ɛnyɛ sɛ ɔpenee yɛn abisade so nko, na mmom ɔno ankasa fii ne pɛ mu pɛɛ sɛ ɔboa nti na osii nʼadwene pi sɛ ɔbɛba mo nkyɛn no. 18Yɛresoma onua bi a wobu no wɔ asafo ahorow no nyinaa mu wɔ asɛnka adwuma no ho aka ne ho. 19Ɛno akyi no, asafo ahorow no ayi onua yi sɛ ɔne yɛn ntutu akwan wɔ mmere a yɛredi ɔdɔ ho dwuma de ahyɛ Awurade anuonyam yi, na yɛmfa nkyerɛ nso sɛ yɛpɛ sɛ yɛboa. 20Yɛhwɛ yɛn ho so yiye sɛ asɛm biara remma ɔkwan a yɛbɛfa so de saa akyɛde yi adi dwuma no ho. 21Yɛn botae ne sɛ yɛbɛyɛ nea eye wɔ Awurade ne nnipa anim.
22Enti yɛresoma onipa foforo bi aka Tito ne osuani baako no ho. Yɛasɔ no ahwɛ wɔ akwan ahorow bebree so na yɛahu sɛ ɛyɛ ne pɛ sɛ ɔboa. Na mprempren ne ho pere no sɛ ɔbɛboa efisɛ wanya mo mu ahotoso. 23Tito de, ɔyɛ me boafo a ɔne me yɛ adwuma de boa mo, na anuanom a wɔne no rekɔ no de, wɔyɛ asɔre ahorow ananmusifo a wɔhyɛ Kristo anuonyam. 24Momma wonhu ɔdɔ a modɔ wɔn sɛnea ɛbɛyɛ a asafo no nyinaa behu sɛ hoa a yɛde mo hoahoa yɛn ho no yɛ nokware.
