2 Corinthians 9

1 Concerning the ministry for the believers, it is not necessary 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 I know about your desire, which I boasted about to the people of Macedonia. I told them that Achaia has been getting ready since last year. Your eagerness has motivated most of them to action.

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 Now I have sent the brothers so that our boasting about you may not be futile, and so that you would be ready, as I said you would be.

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 would be ashamed—I say nothing about you—for being so confident in you.

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 was necessary to urge the brothers to come to you and to make arrangements in advance for the gift you have promised. This is so that it might be ready as a blessing, and not as something extorted.

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 The point is this: The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows for the purpose of a blessing will also reap a blessing.

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

7 Let each one give as he has planned in his heart, not reluctantly or under 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 overflow for you, so that, always, in all things, you may have all you need. This will be so that you may multiply every good deed.

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 It is as it is written: “He has distributed his riches and given them to the poor. His righteousness lasts forever.” (aiōn g165)

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

10 He who supplies seed to the farmer who sows and bread for food, will also supply and multiply your seed for sowing. He 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 so you can be generous. This will bring about thanksgiving to God through us.

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 carrying out this service not only meets the needs of the saints but is also overflowing into many acts 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 your being tested and proved by this service, you will also glorify God by obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ. You will also glorify God by the generosity of your gift to them and to everyone.

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 They long for you, and they are praying for you. They do this because of the very great grace of God that is on you.

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

15 May thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!