2 Corinthians 9

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

Now concerning the relief intended for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

2 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.

for I know your readiness of mind, which I boast of concerning you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath excited many.

3 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.

But I have sent the brethren, that our boasting of you might not become vain in this respect, but that ye might be ready, as I had said:

4 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.

least if the Macedonians should come with me, and find you unprepared, we should be ashamed (not to say you also) in this confident boasting.

5 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.

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go first to you, and before our coming to collect your bounty beforementioned, that it may be ready, as of munificence, and not of force.

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

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

7 Each person should give as he decides in his heart, not with sadness or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Let every one give as he chuses in his own heart; not with reluctance, or constraint: for God loveth a chearful giver.

8 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.

And God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that having always all sufficiency in every thing, ye may abound in every good work:

9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” (aiōn g165)

(as it is written, "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor, his righteousness continueth for ever." (aiōn g165)

10 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!

And may He, who supplieth seed to the sower, and giveth bread for food, furnish and multiply your sowing, and increase the fruits of your bounty: )

11 May you be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, and through us may your generosity produce thanksgiving to God!

being in every thing enriched to all liberality, which produceth through us thanksgiving to God.

12 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.

For the ministration of this service not only supplieth the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also, through many thanksgivings, to the glory of God.

13 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.

(While from the experience of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ, and the liberality of your communication to them, and to all men.)

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

And in their prayer for you, who long after you because of the transcendent grace of God towards you.

15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!