2 Corinthians 9

1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous 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 the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

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 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

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 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

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 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as [a matter of] bounty, and not as [of] covetousness.

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 But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

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

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth 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 toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to 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 hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. (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 that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for [your] food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits 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 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us 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 the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto 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 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for [your] liberal distribution unto them, and unto all [men];

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 by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

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

15 Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!