2 Corinthians 9

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

There is no need for me to write to you about this ministry of giving to the saints in Jerusalem.

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 how eager you are to help, and I keep boasting about you to the Macedonians, saying that Achaia has been prepared to give since last year; and your zeal has stirred up 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.

But I have sent the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter may not prove to be empty, but that you may be prepared, just as I said you would be.

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 of the Macedonians were to come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you) would be ashamed of this confident boasting.

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.

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously announced blessing, so that this gift of yours may be ready as a blessing and not as something you feel forced to do.

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

My point is this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will 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.

Each person should give as he decides in his heart, not with sadness 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.

And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance so that you will always have everything you need to 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 has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” (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 may he who provides seed to the sower, and bread for food, also multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest 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.

May you be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, and through us may your generosity produce 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 this ministry of giving is not only providing for the needs of the saints in Jerusalem but is also abounding through 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.

By their approval of this ministry, the saints in Jerusalem will glorify God because of your submission to the gospel of Christ that you confess, and also because of your generous contribution to them and to all.

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

They will pray for you with deep affection because of the surpassing grace of God that is upon you.

15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!