2 Corinthians 9

1 It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,

For, indeed, concerning the ministry which is for the saints, it is, superfluous for me, to be writing to you;

2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.

For I know your forwardness of mind—of which, in your behalf, I am boasting unto Macedonians, that, Achaia, hath been prepared for a year past, —and, your zeal, hath stirred up the greater number of them.

3 But I have sent the brothers so that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,

Nevertheless I have sent the brethren, that, our boast in your behalf, be not made void, in this respect, that, even as I was saying, ye may be prepared, —

4 lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting.

Lest by any means, if there should come with me Macedonians, and find you unprepared, we, —not to say, ye, —should be put to shame in this confidence.

5 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.

Necessary, therefore, I regarded it, to exhort the brethren that they would go forward unto you, and make up beforehand your previously- promised blessing. The same, to be ready—thus, as a blessing, and not as of constraint.

6 Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

As to this, however, he that soweth sparingly, sparingly, also shall reap, and, he that soweth with blessings, with blessings, also shall reap:

7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Each one, according as he hath purposed in his heart, not sorrowfully, nor of necessity, —for, a cheerful giver, God, loveth.

8 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.

Moreover God is able to cause, every gracious gift, to superabound unto you, in order that, having in every thing, at every time, every kind of sufficiency of your own, ye may be superabounding unto every good work;

9 As it is written, “He has scattered abroad. He has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever.” (aiōn g165)

Even as it is written—He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the needy, —his righteousness, abideth to futurity. (aiōn g165)

10 Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

Now, he that supplieth seed to the sower, and bread for eating, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and cause to grow your fruits of righteousness:

11 you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

In every thing, being enriched, unto every kind of liberality, —which, indeed, worketh out, through us, thanksgiving unto God;

12 For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God,

Because, the ministry of this public service, is not only towards filling up the deficiencies of the saints, but also superabounding, through the thanksgiving of many, unto God, —

13 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 generosity of your contribution to them and to all,

[Of many] who, through the proof of this ministry, are glorifying God for your acknowledged submission unto the glad-message of the Christ, and for the liberality of the fellowship, unto them, and unto all, —

14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.

Themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, longing after you, by reason of the surpassing favour of God [resting] upon you: —

15 Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!

Thanks be unto God, for his unspeakable bounty!