Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.

只是愿意我们记念穷人；这也是我本来热心去行的。

他们只要求我们记念穷人，这也是我一向热心在做的。

他们只要求我们记念穷人，这也是我一向热心在做的。

他们只要求我们照顾那些贫困的人，这正是我一向热衷的事。

只是要我们记念穷人，这本来也是我一向热心作的。

只是要我们记得穷人，而这一点也正是我一向努力做的。

只是願意我們記念窮人；這也是我本來熱心去行的。

他們只要求我們記念窮人，這也是我一向熱心在做的。

他們只要求我們記念窮人，這也是我一向熱心在做的。

他們只要求我們照顧那些貧困的人，這正是我一向熱衷的事。

只是要我們記念窮人，這本來也是我一向熱心作的。

不過還要我們記得窮人；這件事也正是我一向竭力想法子要作的。

只是要我們記得窮人，而這一點也正是我一向努力做的。

惟欲我顧念貧者、我亦殷勤為是矣、○

惟欲我念貧者、我亦殷勤為是矣、

惟欲我二人念貧者、我亦殷勤為此矣、○

彼等惟提一事、欲吾儕不分彼此、眷顧貧人、此亦予所樂為也。

All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

They asked only one thing. They wanted us to continue to remember poor people. That was what I had wanted to do all along.

Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I had made every effort to do.

They only asked us to remember the poor— the very thing I also was eager to do.

They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

only they would that we should remember the poor; which very thing I was also zealous to do.

They asked only that we would remember the poor, which I made every effort to do.

Only[ they would] that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

They requested only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do.

They only asked us to remember the poor— which very thing I was also zealous to do.

“ After several years away, I returned to Jerusalem with money to aid my people and to offer sacrifices to God.

Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia.They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will.They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.So we have urged Titus, who encouraged your giving in the first place, to return to you and encourage you to finish this ministry of giving.Since you excel in so many ways— in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us— I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.I am not commanding you to do this. But I am testing how genuine your love is by comparing it with the eagerness of the other churches.You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing,and you say,“ Good bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”— but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there.For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem.They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially.

So the believers in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers and sisters in Judea, everyone giving as much as they could.This they did, entrusting their gifts to Barnabas and Saul to take to the elders of the church in Jerusalem.

Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God’s people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia.On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.