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 those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. 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 so 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
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.
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 ως 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
Let each man 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 abroad. He has given to the poor. His righteousness remains for the age (aiōn g165)."
10 ο δε επιχορηγων σπερμα τω σπειροντι και αρτον εις βρωσιν χορηγησαι και πληθυναι τον σπορον υμων και αυξησαι τα γενηματα της δικαιοσυνης υμων
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,
11 εν παντι πλουτιζομενοι εις πασαν απλοτητα ητις κατεργαζεται δι ημων ευχαριστιαν τω θεω
you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.
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 much giving of thanks 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 generosity 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 supplication 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
Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
