2 Corinthians 9

1 Now [I want to write] more about the gift [of money] [EUP] that [you and other believers are preparing to send] to the believers [in Judea province]. I do not [really] need to [continue writing to you about it],

Sesungguhnya, dalam surat ini saya tidak perlu mendorong kalian untuk ikut ambil bagian dalam pelayanan dana bagi umat Allah di Yerusalem,

2 because I already know that you really want to help them. In fact, I have been boasting [about you], telling the [believers here in] Macedonia [province] that [you people in] Achaia [province] have been ready to help, since last year. As a result, because you are very eager to help [the believers in Judea province], you have made most of [the believers here in Macedonia province also want] to give [a gift].

karena saya tahu kalian selalu siap sedia memberikan bantuan. Bahkan saya mendorong jemaat-jemaat di Makedonia dengan membanggakan kalian. Saya memberitahu mereka bahwa kalian di provinsi Akaya sudah siap memberi sumbangan sejak tahun lalu. Semangat kalian itu sudah menggerakkan hati sebagian besar dari mereka untuk ikut ambil bagian.

3 However, I am sending Titus and the other two believers in order that [they will be able to help you finish collecting the money. Then when I and others arrive later, the people with me will see for themselves that] the things that I have been boasting about you are true [LIT]. [I want] you [to have your gift] ready [for us(exc) to take to Jerusalem], just like I have been telling others that you were ready.

Saya mengutus ketiga saudara tadi kepada kalian hanya agar cerita kami yang membanggakan kalian tidak dianggap omong kosong. Saya ingin sumbangan kalian benar-benar sudah siap, seperti yang saya beritahukan kepada mereka.

4 When I come, if any of [the believers from] Macedonia come with me, [I do not want them to find that your gift is] [MTY, EUP] not ready. If that were [to happen], I would be very ashamed, and you yourselves would be even more ashamed.

Karena kalau saudara-saudara seiman dari Makedonia yang datang bersama saya melihat bahwa kalian belum siap, kami akan malu! Tentu kalian juga akan malu jika apa yang kami banggakan tentang kalian dengan begitu yakin ternyata omong kosong.

5 So that is why I felt that it was necessary to urge these [three] believers to go [and visit] you before I [come. In that way, they would be able to help you finish] collecting the generous gift [EUP] that had been promised by you {you had said you would give}. [If you do that, not only will] the gift be ready [by the time that we arrive, but everyone will see that you have given because you really want to give, and] not because anyone has forced you to give.

Itu sebabnya saya mendorong ketiga saudara tadi mendahului kami. Mereka akan membantu kalian menyiapkan dana yang sudah kalian janjikan, supaya sumbangan itu siap pada waktu kami tiba. Dengan begitu, dana dari kalian akan benar-benar dianggap sebagai pemberian sukarela dan bukan paksaan.

6 Do not forget this: “[A farmer] who sows only a few [seeds] will not gather/reap a large [harvest], but the one who sows a lot [of seeds] will gather/reap a large [harvest] [MET].” [Similarly, if you give just a little to help others, God will give you only a few blessings. But if you give willingly and cheerfully to help people, you will receive in return many blessings from God].

Perhatikanlah ini: Orang yang menanam sedikit akan menuai sedikit, dan orang yang menanam banyak akan menuai banyak!

7 Each of you should decide how much you [(sg)] should give, [and then give that amount]. You [(sg)] should not [be thinking to yourself], “[I really] do not want to give this money.” [And you(sg) should] not give [just] because someone tells [you to give. Instead, you should give willingly and cheerfully], because God loves those who give cheerfully.

Hendaklah kalian masing-masing memberi dengan sukarela, bukan dengan sedih atau karena paksaan, sebab Allah mengasihi orang yang memberi dengan senang hati.

8 Moreover, God can enable you to [give to others cheerfully. If you give that way], God will [in return] give you many good blessings. He will do that so that at all times you will always have everything that you need. Indeed, you will have even more [than you need. As a result, you will be able to do] many more good things [to help others].

Ingatlah bahwa Allah sanggup menunjukkan kebaikan hati-Nya kepadamu dalam segala hal, sehingga keperluanmu selalu tercukupi, bahkan lebih dari cukup! Dengan begitu kamu lebih mampu lagi melakukan hal-hal yang baik.

9 [Those who give willingly and cheerfully will be rewarded like the man about whom] it is written {[about whom] (someone/the Psalmist) wrote} in the Scriptures, He generously [helps others], [he gives to those] who are poor. [God will remember] the good things that he did, [and reward him with] good things forever. (aiōn g165)

Seperti yang dikatakan Kitab Suci, “Orang-orang yang hidupnya benar bagaikan petani yang menabur benih. Mereka sering memberi dengan murah hati kepada orang miskin. Perbuatan-perbuatan baik mereka akan menghasilkan panen yang kekal.” (aiōn g165)

10 [God always] gives seeds to farmers to plant, and also gives them food to eat. [So, similarly, God will] always make it possible for you to have enough money [MET], so that you will be able more and more to generously [help those who are needy].

Nah, sebagaimana Allah menyediakan bibit untuk ditabur dan makanan untuk dimakan bagi penabur, demikian juga Dia akan memberkati kamu dengan berlimpah-limpah. Artinya, Dia akan memampukan kamu untuk menabur dengan murah hati bagi orang lain, dan memberimu upah atas perbuatan-perbuatan baikmu itu.

11 [God] will [give you] many blessings in many different ways as a result of your generously [helping others]. Furthermore, [the] generous [gift that you are getting ready for] us [(exc) to take to the believers in Judea province] will cause [many people] to thank God.

Kamu akan diperkaya dalam segala hal, sehingga kamu selalu sanggup memberi dengan murah hati. Pemberian yang kamu salurkan melalui kami akan membuat semakin banyak orang bersyukur kepada Allah.

12 [Also remember that] when you give money to [EUP] help God’s people, you not only give them what they need, but also, [because of that], [many people will] thank God very much [for you and for what you have done].

Pelayanan dana ini tidak hanya mencukupi kebutuhan umat Allah di Yerusalem, tetapi juga membuat semakin banyak orang bersyukur kepada Allah.

13 As a result of your giving [money to help others], they will praise God, not only because you have believed the good message about Christ, but also because you have [generously given some of your possessions] so that they and other [believers will all have] ([enough/their needs supplied]).

Sebab pelayanan ini membuktikan bahwa kamu semua taat menjalankan keyakinanmu pada Kabar Baik tentang Kristus. Saudara-saudari di Yerusalem akan memuji Allah atas kemurahan hatimu kepada mereka maupun kepada semua jemaat di tempat lain.

14 Also, when they pray for you, [asking God to bless you, they will remember how grateful they are] [IDM] that God [caused you to give] very willingly and cheerfully.

Dan mereka akan mendoakan kalian dengan penuh kasih karena Allah menunjukkan kebaikan hati-Nya kepada kalian dengan luar biasa.

15 [Finally, we should all] thank God [because he gave us the greatest gift of all when he sent his Son to save/rescue us(inc)] ([from the guilt of our sin/from being punished for our sin]). That is a gift too wonderful for anyone to be able to tell about completely!

Syukur kepada Allah atas hadiah terbesar yang diberikan-Nya kepada kita, yaitu Kristus sendiri! Begitu berharganya berkat itu hingga tidak dapat dijelaskan dengan kata-kata!