2 Corinthians 9

1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

And concerning the ministration by the saints, it would be superfluous for me to write to you:

2 for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them.

for I know the goodness of your mind; and therefore I gloried of you before the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath excited many.

3 But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:

Yet I sent the brethren, lest the glorying with which we have gloried in you in regard to this matter, should prove vain; and that ye, as I said, may be ready;

4 lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.

so that, if the Macedonians should come with me, and should find you unprepared, we-not to say, ye-should be put to shame for that glorying in which we gloried.

5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion.

Therefore I was careful to request these my brethren, to go before me unto you, that they might make up this benefaction, of which ye were advised long before to have it ready, as being a benefaction, and not a matter of cupidity.

6 But this [I say], He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

And this I say: He that soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully, shall also reap bountifully.

7 [Let] each man [do] according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Every man, according to his own views, not with sadness, not by constraint: for the Lord loveth a joyous giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:

For it is in the power of God, to make all good abound to you, so that ye may have, at all times, and in every thing, what is sufficient for you; and may abound in every good work.

9 as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever. (aiōn g165)

As it is written, He hath dispersed and given to the poor; and his righteousness is established for ever. (aiōn g165)

10 And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:

Now he that giveth seed to the sower, and bread for food, may he give and multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:

11 ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.

so that in every thing, ye may be enriched unto all liberality, to the completion of our thanksgiving to God.

12 For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God;

For the performance of this ministration, not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is also rich in many thanksgivings to God.

13 seeing that through the proving [of you] by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of [your] contribution unto them and unto all;

For on account of the test of this ministration, we glorify God, that ye do subject yourselves to the profession of the gospel of the Messiah, and that in your liberality, ye communicate with them and with all men:

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

and they put up prayer for you, with much love, because of the abundance of the grace of God that is upon you.

15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.