2 Corinthians 9

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

And concerning the ministration by the saints, it would be superfluous for me to write 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.

for I know the goodness of your mind; and therefore I gloried of you before the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath excited many.

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.

Yet I sent the brethren, lest the glorying with which we have gloried in you in regard to this matter, should prove vain; and that ye, as I said, may be ready;

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.

so that, if the Macedonians should come with me, and should find you unprepared, we-not to say, ye-should be put to shame for that glorying in which we gloried.

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 was careful to request these my brethren, to go before me unto you, that they might make up this benefaction, of which ye were advised long before to have it ready, as being a benefaction, and not a matter of cupidity.

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

And this I say: He that soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully, shall also reap bountifully.

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.

Every man, according to his own views, not with sadness, not by constraint: for the Lord loveth a joyous 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.

For it is in the power of God, to make all good abound to you, so that ye may have, at all times, and in every thing, what is sufficient for you; and may abound in every good work.

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

As it is written, He hath dispersed and given to the poor; and his righteousness is established 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.

Now he that giveth seed to the sower, and bread for food, may he give and multiply your seed, and increase 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.

so that in every thing, ye may be enriched unto all liberality, to the completion of our thanksgiving 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 performance of this ministration, not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is also rich in many thanksgivings to God.

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.

For on account of the test of this ministration, we glorify God, that ye do subject yourselves to the profession of the gospel of the Messiah, and that in your liberality, ye communicate with them and with all men:

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

and they put up prayer for you, with much love, because of the abundance of the grace of God that is upon you.

15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.