2 Corinthians 9

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

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

2 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.

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.

3 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, —

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.

4 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.

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.

5 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.

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.

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

Remember the saying – ‘Scanty sowing, scanty harvest; plentiful sowing, plentiful harvest.’

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

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

8 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;

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.

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

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

10 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:

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).

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

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.

12 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, —

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.

13 [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, —

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.

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

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

15 Thanks be unto God, for his unspeakable bounty!

All thanks to God for his inestimable gift!