Προς Κορινθιους Β΄ 9
1 περι μεν γαρ της διακονιας της εις τους αγιους περισσον μοι εστιν το γραφειν υμιν
There is no need for me to write to you about this ministry of giving to the saints in Jerusalem.
2 οιδα γαρ την προθυμιαν υμων ην υπερ υμων καυχωμαι μακεδοσιν οτι αχαια παρεσκευασται απο περυσι και ο εξ υμων ζηλος ηρεθισεν τους πλειονας
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 επεμψα δε τους αδελφους ινα μη το καυχημα ημων το υπερ υμων κενωθη εν τω μερει τουτω ινα καθως ελεγον παρεσκευασμενοι ητε
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 μηπως εαν ελθωσιν συν εμοι μακεδονες και ευρωσιν υμας απαρασκευαστους καταισχυνθωμεν ημεις ινα μη λεγωμεν υμεις εν τη υποστασει ταυτη της καυχησεως
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 αναγκαιον ουν ηγησαμην παρακαλεσαι τους αδελφους ινα προελθωσιν εις υμας και προκαταρτισωσιν την προκατηγγελμενην ευλογιαν υμων ταυτην ετοιμην ειναι ουτως ως ευλογιαν και μη ως πλεονεξιαν
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 τουτο δε ο σπειρων φειδομενως φειδομενως και θερισει και ο σπειρων επ ευλογιαις επ ευλογιαις και θερισει
My point is this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 εκαστος καθως προαιρειται τη καρδια μη εκ λυπης η εξ αναγκης ιλαρον γαρ δοτην αγαπα ο θεος
Each person should give as he decides in his heart, not with sadness or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 δυνατος δε ο θεος πασαν χαριν περισσευσαι εις υμας ινα εν παντι παντοτε πασαν αυταρκειαν εχοντες περισσευητε εις παν εργον αγαθον
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.
As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” (aiōn g165)
10 ο δε επιχορηγων σπερμα τω σπειροντι και αρτον εις βρωσιν χορηγησαι και πληθυναι τον σπορον υμων και αυξησαι τα γενηματα της δικαιοσυνης υμων
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 εν παντι πλουτιζομενοι εις πασαν απλοτητα ητις κατεργαζεται δι ημων ευχαριστιαν τω θεω
May you be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, and through us may your generosity produce thanksgiving to God!
12 οτι η διακονια της λειτουργιας ταυτης ου μονον εστιν προσαναπληρουσα τα υστερηματα των αγιων αλλα και περισσευουσα δια πολλων ευχαριστιων τω θεω
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 δια της δοκιμης της διακονιας ταυτης δοξαζοντες τον θεον επι τη υποταγη της ομολογιας υμων εις το ευαγγελιον του χριστου και απλοτητι της κοινωνιας εις αυτους και εις παντας
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 και αυτων δεησει υπερ υμων επιποθουντων υμας δια την υπερβαλλουσαν χαριν του θεου εφ υμιν
They will pray for you with deep affection because of the surpassing grace of God that is upon you.
15 χαρις δε τω θεω επι τη ανεκδιηγητω αυτου δωρεα
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
