Verse Comparison: 2 Corinthians 8:5
American Standard Version
and `this', not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God.
Amplified® Bible
Nor [was this gift of theirs merely the contribution] that we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His agents] by the will of God [entirely disregarding their personal interests, they gave as much as they possibly could, having put themselves at our disposal to be directed by the will of God]--
Contemporary English Version
And they did more than we had hoped. They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us, just as God wanted them to do.
Darby English Version
And not according as we hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord, and to us by God's will.
Good News Bible
It was more than we could have hoped for! First they gave themselves to the Lord; and then, by God's will they gave themselves to us as well.
International Standard Version
We did not expect that! They gave themselves to the Lord first and then to us, since this was God's will.
King James Version
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
New American Standard Bible
and {this,} not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
New International Version
And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.
New King James Version
And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.
N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
Young's Literal Translation
and not according as we expected, but themselves they did give first to the Lord, and to us, through the will of God,