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

Now about the offering that is for the saints (God’s people in Jerusalem), it is quite superfluous that I should write you;

2 f or I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

For I am well acquainted with your willingness (your readiness and your eagerness to promote it) and I have proudly told about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia (most of Greece) has been prepared since last year for this contribution; and your enthusiasm has stimulated the majority of them.

3 Y et have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

Still, I am sending the brethren, lest our pride in you should be made an empty boast in this particular case, and so that you may be all ready, as I told them you would be;

4 l est haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

Lest, if Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we, to say nothing of yourselves, be humiliated for our being so confident.

5 T herefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brethren to go to you before I do and make arrangements in advance for this bountiful, promised gift of yours, so that it may be ready, not as an extortion but as a generous and willing gift.

6 B ut this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously '> that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.

7 E very man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Let each one as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver.

8 A nd God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient.

9 ( as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

As it is written, He scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!

10 N ow he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

And Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness '> which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].

11 b eing enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God.

12 F or the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

For the service that the ministering of this fund renders does not only fully supply what is lacking to the saints (God’s people), but it also overflows in many thanksgiving to God.

13 w hiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

Because at standing of the test of this ministry, they will glorify God for your loyalty and obedience to the Gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous-hearted liberality to them and to all.

14 a nd by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

And they yearn for you while they pray for you, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace (His favor and mercy and spiritual blessing which is shown forth) in you.

15 T hanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Now thanks be to God for His Gift, beyond telling!