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

For, indeed, concerning the ministration that for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you,

2 F or 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.

for I have known your readiness of mind, which in your behalf I boast of to Macedonians, that Achaia hath been prepared a year ago, and the zeal of you did stir up the more part,

3 S till, 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;

and I sent the brethren, that our boasting on your behalf may not be made vain in this respect; that, according as I said, ye may be ready,

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

lest if Macedonians may come with me, and find you unprepared, we -- we may be put to shame (that we say not -- ye) in this same confidence of boasting.

5 T hat 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.

Necessary, therefore, I thought to exhort the brethren, that they may go before to you, and may make up before your formerly announced blessing, that this be ready, as a blessing, and not as covetousness.

6 t his: 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.

And this: He who is sowing sparingly, sparingly also shall reap; and he who is sowing in blessings, in blessings also shall reap;

7 L et 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.

each one, according as he doth purpose in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for a cheerful giver doth God love,

8 A nd 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.

and God able all grace to cause to abound to you, that in every thing always all sufficiency having, ye may abound to every good work,

9 A s 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!

(according as it hath been written, `He dispersed abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness doth remain to the age,')

10 A nd 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].

and may He who is supplying seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

11 T hus 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.

in every thing being enriched to all liberality, which doth work through us thanksgiving to God,

12 F or 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.

because the ministration of this service not only is supplying the wants of the saints, but is also abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

13 B ecause 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.

through the proof of this ministration glorifying God for the subjection of your confession to the good news of the Christ, and the liberality of the fellowship to them and to all,

14 A nd 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.

and by their supplication in your behalf, longing after you because of the exceeding grace of God upon you;

15 N ow thanks be to God for His Gift, beyond telling!

thanks also to God for His unspeakable gift!