Προς Κορινθιους Β΄ 9
1 περι μεν γαρ της διακονιας της εις τους αγιους περισσον μοι εστιν το γραφειν υμιν
It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,
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 your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past. Your zeal has stirred up very many 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 that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,
4 μηπως εαν ελθωσιν συν εμοι μακεδονες και ευρωσιν υμας απαρασκευαστους καταισχυνθωμεν ημεις ινα μη λεγωμεν υμεις εν τη υποστασει ταυτη της καυχησεως
so that I won't by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) should be disappointed in this confidence.
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 ωσπερ πλεονεξιαν
I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you, and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.
6 τουτο δε ο σπειρων φειδομενως φειδομενως και θερισει και ο σπειρων επ ευλογιαις επ ευλογιαις και θερισει
Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who 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 according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, 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 make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.
As it is written, "He has scattered, 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 γεννηματα της δικαιοσυνης υμων
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;
11 εν παντι πλουτιζομενοι εις πασαν απλοτητα ητις κατεργαζεται δι ημων ευχαριστιαν τω θεω
you being enriched in everything to all liberality, which works through us 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 service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also 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
seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all;
14 και αυτων δεησει υπερ υμων επιποθουντων υμας δια την υπερβαλλουσαν χαριν του θεου εφ υμιν
while they themselves also, with petition on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 χαρις δε τω θεω επι τη ανεκδιηγητω αυτου δωρεα
Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift.
