2 Corinthians 8:7–15

⁷Now as you excel in everything—faith, speech, knowledge, ^zand in all diligence, and in your love for us ^a—excel also in this grace.

⁸I am not saying this as a command. Rather, by means of the diligence of others, I am testing the genuineness of your love. ⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, ^bfor your sake He became poor, ^cso that by His poverty you might become rich. ¹⁰Now I am giving an opinion on this because it is profitable for you, who a year ago began not only to do something but also to desire it. ^de11But now finish the task ^fas well, that just as there was eagerness to desire it, so there may also be a completion from what you have. ¹²For if the eagerness is there, it is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have. ^g13It is not that there may be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality ^h— ¹⁴at the present time your surplus is available for their need, so their abundance may also become available for our need, so there may be equality. ¹⁵As it has been written:

The person who gathered much

did not have too much,

and the person who gathered little

did not have too little. ^ij