2 Corinthians 8:13

Contemporary English Version

I am not trying to make life easier for others by making life harder for you. But it is only fair

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
It is not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it is a question of equality.

King James Version (1611)
For I meane not that other men bee eased, and you burthened:

King James Version
For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:

English Standard Version
For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness

New American Standard Bible
For this is not for the relief of others and for your hardship, but by way of equality—

New Century Version
We do not want you to have troubles while other people are at ease, but we want everything to be equal.

Amplified Bible
For it is not [intended] that others be relieved [of their responsibility] and that you be burdened [unfairly], but that there be equality [in sharing the burden]—

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—

Legacy Standard Bible
For this is not for the relief of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality—

Berean Standard Bible
It is not our intention that others may be relieved while you are burdened, but that there may be equality.

Complete Jewish Bible
It is not that relief for others should cause trouble for you, but that there should be a kind of reciprocity:

Darby Translation
For [it is] not in order that there may be ease for others, and for you distress,

Easy-to-Read Version
We don't want you to have troubles while others are comforted. We want everything to be equal.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Neither is it that other men should be eased and you grieued: But vpon like condition, at this time your abundance supplieth their lacke:

George Lamsa Translation
This is not intended to relieve other men and add a burden to you;

Good News Translation
I am not trying to relieve others by putting a burden on you; but since you have plenty at this time, it is only fair that you should help those who are in need. Then, when you are in need and they have plenty, they will help you. In this way both are treated equally.

Lexham English Bible
For this is not that for others there may be relief, and for you difficult circumstances, but as a matter of equality.

Literal Translation
For it is not that there may be ease to others, but trouble to you;

American Standard Version
For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed;

Bible in Basic English
And I am not saying this so that others may get off free, while the weight comes on you:

Hebrew Names Version
For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

International Standard Version
Not that others should have relief while you have hardship. Rather, it is a question of fairness.

Etheridge Translation
Neither must there be to others ease, and to you anxiety,

Murdock Translation
For it is not, that others may have easement, and you pressure;

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Truly, not that other be set at ease, & ye brought into combraunce:

English Revised Version
For [I say] not [this], that others may be eased, [and] ye distressed:

World English Bible
For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For I do not mean, that others should be eased, and you burthened; But by an equality,

Weymouth's New Testament
I do not urge you to give in order that others may have relief while you are unduly pressed,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And not that it be remyssioun to othere men, and to you tribulacioun;

Update Bible Version
For not that others may be eased [and] you distressed; but by equality:

Webster's Bible Translation
For [I mean] not that other men should be eased, and you burdened:

New English Translation
For I do not say this so there would be relief for others and suffering for you, but as a matter of equality.

New King James Version
For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

New Living Translation
Of course, I don't mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.

New Life Bible
This does not mean that others do not have to give and you have to give much. You should share alike.

New Revised Standard
I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, not that unto others should be relief, and unto you distress do I speak , but, by equality, in the present season, your surplus for their deficiency, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I mean not that others should be eased and you burdened, but by an equality.

Revised Standard Version
I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
It is not my mynde that other be set at ease and ye brought into combraunce:

Young's Literal Translation
for not that for others release, and ye pressured, [do I speak,]

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
This is not done to the intent, that other shulde haue ease, and ye cobraunce,

Mace New Testament (1729)
my meaning is not, that you should be distress'd to relieve others, I only recommend an equality;

Simplified Cowboy Version
Your gifts aren't supposed to make your life hard and other cowboy's lives easier. It's a way of offering a leg up to someone in need and you know that one day the tables might be turned.

Contextual Overview

⁷ You do everything better than anyone else. You have stronger faith. You speak better and know more. You are eager to give, and you love us better. Now you must give more generously than anyone else. ⁸ I am not ordering you to do this. I am simply testing how real your love is by comparing it with the concern that others have shown. ⁹ You know that our Lord Jesus Christ was kind enough to give up all his riches and become poor, so that you could become rich. ¹⁰ A year ago you were the first ones to give, and you gave because you wanted to. So listen to my advice. ¹¹ I think you should finish what you started. If you give according to what you have, you will prove that you are as eager to give as you were to think about giving. ¹² It doesn't matter how much you have. What matters is how much you are willing to give from what you have. ¹³ I am not trying to make life easier for others by making life harder for you. But it is only fair ¹⁴ for you to share with them when you have so much, and they have so little. Later, when they have more than enough, and you are in need, they can share with you. Then everyone will have a fair share, ¹⁵ just as the Scriptures say, "Those who gathered too much had nothing left. Those who gathered only a little had all they needed."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

not: Acts 4:34, Romans 15:26, Romans 15:27

Reciprocal: Numbers 35:8 - from them

Cross-References

Genesis 7:11
Noah was six hundred years old when the water under the earth started gushing out everywhere. The sky opened like windows, and rain poured down for forty days and nights. All this began on the seventeenth day of the second month of the year.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For I mean not that other men be eased and you burdened. Referring either to the givers; and that either to the richer and meaner sort in this church; the apostle's sense being, not to put the whole burden of the collection upon some only, whilst others were excused doing little or nothing; but that everyone should give according to his ability; or to other churches in poorer circumstances; and the apostle's meaning was, not that these churches by reason of their meanness should be entirely free from this service, as it was plain they were not, by the instance of the Macedonians; and that the whole be devolved upon the Corinthian church, and others that were rich; but that all should contribute according to their circumstances: or this may refer to the persons given to, and for whom this beneficence was asked; for the words may be rendered, "for not that there may be ease", or relaxation "to others, and to you affliction" or straitness; that is, his meaning was, not that there should be such a contribution raised for these poor saints at Jerusalem, that they should live in ease and great abundance; whilst their benefactors, through an over abundant generosity to them, were straitened, and their families reduced to great difficulties; this was what was far from his intentions.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For I mean not that other men be eased ... - I do not intend that others should be eased in order to relieve you. Literally, “Not that there should be rest (ἄνεσις anesis, a letting loose; remission, relaxation) to others, but affliction (θλίψις thlipsis) to you.” Probably the Corinthians were able to contribute more than many other churches, certainly more than the churches of Macedonia 2 Corinthians 8:2, and Paul therefore presses upon them the duty of giving according to their means, yet he by no means intended that the entire burden should come on them.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 2 Corinthians 8:13. That other men be eased — I do not design that you should impoverish yourselves in order that others may live affluently.