So that: Revised Standard Version continues the sentence started at the beginning of verse 10, but this connection is misleading. The Greek of this verse actually begins “but now….” This contrasts the present time with “last year” in verse 10. Having reminded his readers that they had initiated the idea of a collection during the previous year, Paul now urges them to see to it that the task is completed.

Readiness: this word is repeated in verses 12 and 19 of this chapter as well as in 9.2. In Acts 17.11 it is translated “eagerness.” It has to do with a willingness or predisposition to do something.

Desiring … completing: here Paul uses two infinitives preceded by definite articles, literally “the to will … the to complete.” That is, the verbs are used as nouns. This may be translated “you eagerly wanted to do it, so now do it,” or in some cases reversing the order to these two elements, “be as eager to complete … as to plan.”

May be matched: this may be translated “be as eager to X as to Y,” as indicated above. Such a structure will avoid the difficult passive form of Revised Standard Version.

Out of what you have: obviously whatever the Corinthians would give would have to come out of what they had. The sense seems to be that they were to give, not by concerning themselves with how much the Macedonians had given, but rather by considering how much they were able to give out of what resources they had. Barrett translates “as far as your resources permit.”

A literal translation of this verse reads as follows: “But now also finish the doing just as the readiness to desire so also the finishing from the having.” Possible models for the verse as a whole are: “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” (Contemporary English Version), “It is now time to complete what you started, using what you have now. Prove that you can finish the job as eagerly as you started it,” or “So now finish the job. By giving as much as you can, you will show people that you are eager to act as well as to plan for action.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .