9. For 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.
10. I give my opinion in this matter, for this is to your advantage, who were the first to begin a year ago not only to do this, but also to desire to do it.
11. But now finish doing it also, so that just as there was the readiness to desire it, so there may be also the completion of it by your ability.
12. For if the readiness is present, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
13. For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality-
14. at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality;
15. as it is written, "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little had no lack."
16. But thanks be to God who puts the same earnestness on your behalf in the heart of Titus.
17. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest, he has gone to you of his own accord.
18. We have sent along with him the brother whose fame in the things of the gospel has spread through all the churches;
19. and not only this, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us for the glory of the Lord Himself, and to show our readiness,
20. taking precaution so that no one will discredit us in our administration of this generous gift;