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 honour 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 fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honour 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.
Kulimbikitsa Zopereka
1Ndipo tsopano, abale, tikufuna kuti mudziwe za chisomo chimene Mulungu wapereka ku mipingo ya ku Makedoniya. 2Pakati pa mayesero owawitsa, chimwemwe chawo chosefukira ndi umphawi wawo otheratu, anapereka mowolowamanja kwambiri. 3Motero ndikuchitira umboni kuti anapereka mmene akanathera, ndipo mwinanso kuposera mmene akathera kupereka. Anapereka mosakakamizidwa, 4ndipo anatipempha motiwumiriza kuti tiwapatse mwayi woti nawonso athandize anthu oyera mtima a ku Yudeya. 5Iwo anachita moposera mmene ife timayembekezera. Choyamba anadzipereka kwa Ambuye ndipo kenaka kwa ife monga mwa chifuniro cha Mulungu. 6Choncho tinamupempha Tito kuti atsirize poti nʼkuti atayamba kale ntchito yachisomoyi pakati panu. 7Popeza pa zinthu zonse munachita bwino, monga pachikhulupiriro, poyankhula, pachidziwitso, pakhama lambiri ndi pachikondi chanu pa ife, onetsetsani kuti muchitenso bwino pachisomo ichi chopereka.
8Sindikukulamulirani, koma ndikufuna kuona ngati chikondi chanu nʼchoona pofananitsa ndi changu cha anthu ena. 9Pakuti mukudziwa chisomo cha Ambuye athu Yesu Khristu, kuti ngakhale anali wolemera, koma chifukwa cha inuyo anasanduka wosauka, kuti umphawi wakewo, inuyo mulemere.
10Ndipo nawa malangizo anga pa zoyenera inu kuchita pa nkhaniyi. Chaka chatha munali oyamba, osati ongofuna kupereka kokha komanso okhala ndi mtima ofuna kupereka. 11Tsopano tsirizani ntchitoyi, ndipo changu chanu chofunitsitsa kugwira ntchitoyi ndi kuyitsiriza chichitike molingana ndi zimene muli nazo. 12Ndipo ngati mtima ofunitsitsa ulipo, mphatsoyo imalandiridwa molingana ndi zimene munthuyo ali nazo, osati zimene alibe.
13Cholinga chathu sikuti tipeputse ena pamene inuyo mukuvutika, koma kuti pakhale kufanana. 14Zambiri zimene muli nazo pakati panu muthandize nazo osowa, kuti nawonso akadzakhala nazo zambiri adzakuthandizeni pa zosowa zanu. Cholinga nʼkuchita mofanana, 15monga kwalembedwa kuti, “Iye amene anatola zambiri sizinamutsalireko ndipo amene anatola pangʼono sizinamuchepere.”
Tito Atumidwa ku Korinto
16Tithokoze Mulungu amene anayika mu mtima wa Tito changu chomwecho chimene ine ndili nacho pa inu. 17Pakuti Tito sanangovomera kokha pempho lathu, koma yekha anafunitsitsa kwambiri kubwera kwa inu mwa iye yekha. 18Ndipo tikumutumiza pamodzi ndi mʼbale amene mipingo yonse yamuyamikira chifukwa cha utumiki wake wa Uthenga Wabwino. 19Chowonjezera china nʼchakuti anasankhidwa ndi mipingo kuti atiperekeze pamene ife tikukapereka zopereka, zimene tikuchita pofuna kupereka ulemu kwa Ambuye mwini ndi kuonetsa kufunitsitsa kwathu pothandiza. 20Tikufuna kupewa kutikayikira kulikonse za mmene tikuyendetsera mphatso zochulukazi. 21Pakuti tikuyesetsa kuchita zolondola, osati pamaso pa Ambuye pokha komanso pamaso pa anthu.
22Kuwonjezera apo, tikuwatumiza pamodzi ndi mʼbale wathu, amene nthawi zambiri watitsimikizira mʼnjira zosiyanasiyana kuti ndi wachangu ndiponso chifukwa ali ndi chikhulupiriro chachikulu mwa inu. 23Kunena za Tito, ndiye mnzanga ndi wogwira naye ntchito pakati panu. Kunena za abale athu, ndiwo oyimirira mipingo ndi olemekezetsa Khristu. 24Choncho anthu amenewa atsimikizireni za chikondi chanu ndipo adziwe chifukwa chimene ife timakunyadirani, kuti mipingo yonse iwone chimenechi.
