2 Corinthians 9

1 With reference, indeed, to the fund for your fellow Christians, it is quite superfluous for me to say anything to you.

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

2 I know, of course, your willingness to help, and I am always boasting of it to the Macedonians. I tell them that you in Greece have been ready for a year past; and it was really your zeal that stimulated most of them.

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.

3 So my reason for sending our friends is to prevent what we said about you from proving, in this particular matter, an empty boast, and to enable you to be as well prepared as I have been saying that you are.

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:

4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians were to come with me, and find you unprepared, we – to say nothing of you – should feel ashamed of our present confidence.

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.

5 Therefore I think it necessary to beg the friends to go to you in advance, and to complete the arrangements for the gift, which you have already promised, so that it may be ready, as a gift, before I come, and not look as if it were being given under pressure.

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.

6 Remember the saying – “Scanty sowing, scanty harvest; plentiful sowing, plentiful harvest.”

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

7 Let everyone give as he has determined before hand, not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

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

8 God has power to shower all kinds of blessings on you, so that, having, under all circumstances and on all occasions, all that you can need, you may be able to shower all kinds of benefits on others.

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:

9 (As scripture says – “He shared freely, he gave to the poor; his righteousness continues for ever.” (aiōn g165)

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

10 And he who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for eating, will supply you with seed, and cause it to increase, and will multiply the fruits of your righteousness).

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:

11 Rich in all things yourselves, you will be able to show liberality to all, which, with our help, will cause thanksgiving to be offered to God.

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

12 For the rendering of a public service such as this, not only relieves the needs of your fellow Christians, but also results in the offering to God of many a thanksgiving.

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;

13 Through the evidence afforded by the service rendered, you cause people to praise God for your fidelity to your profession of faith in the good news of the Christ, as well as for the liberality of your contributions for them and for all others.

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;

14 And they also, in their prayers for you, express their longing to see you, because of the surpassing love of God displayed toward you.

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

15 All thanks to God for his inestimable gift!

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.