2 Corinthians 9

1 Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.

With reference, indeed, to the fund for your fellow Christians, it is quite superfluous for me to say anything to you.

2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.

I know, of course, your willingness to help, and I am always boasting of it to the Macedonians. I tell them that you in Greece have been ready for a year past; and it was really your zeal that stimulated most of them.

3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said.

So my reason for sending our friends is to prevent what we said about you from proving, in this particular matter, an empty boast, and to enable you to be as well prepared as I have been saying that you are.

4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.

Otherwise, if any Macedonians were to come with me, and find you unprepared, we – to say nothing of you – should feel ashamed of our present confidence.

5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the bountiful gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.

Therefore I think it necessary to beg the friends to go to you in advance, and to complete the arrangements for the gift, which you have already promised, so that it may be ready, as a gift, before I come, and not look as if it were being given under pressure.

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Remember the saying – “Scanty sowing, scanty harvest; plentiful sowing, plentiful harvest.”

7 Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

Let everyone give as he has determined before hand, not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

God has power to shower all kinds of blessings on you, so that, having, under all circumstances and on all occasions, all that you can need, you may be able to shower all kinds of benefits on others.

9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” (aiōn g165)

(As scripture says – “He shared freely, he gave to the poor; his righteousness continues for ever.” (aiōn g165)

10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.

And he who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for eating, will supply you with seed, and cause it to increase, and will multiply the fruits of your righteousness).

11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God.

Rich in all things yourselves, you will be able to show liberality to all, which, with our help, will cause thanksgiving to be offered to God.

12 For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.

For the rendering of a public service such as this, not only relieves the needs of your fellow Christians, but also results in the offering to God of many a thanksgiving.

13 Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.

Through the evidence afforded by the service rendered, you cause people to praise God for your fidelity to your profession of faith in the good news of the Christ, as well as for the liberality of your contributions for them and for all others.

14 And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

And they also, in their prayers for you, express their longing to see you, because of the surpassing love of God displayed toward you.

15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

All thanks to God for his inestimable gift!