1 F or concerning the ministration which for the saints, it is superfluous my writing to you.

¶ For regarding the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

2 F or I know your readiness, which I boast of as respects you to Macedonians, that Achaia is prepared since a year ago, and the zeal of you has stimulated the mass.

For I know your ready desire, for which I gloried of you to those of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal has provoked many.

3 B ut I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made void in this respect, in order that, as I have said, ye may be prepared;

Yet I have sent the brethren lest our glorying of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready,

4 l est haply, if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, that we say not ye, may be put to shame in this confidence.

lest haply if those of Macedonia come with me and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed of this our confidence.

5 I thought it necessary therefore to beg the brethren that they would come to you, and complete beforehand your fore-announced blessing, that this may be ready thus as blessing, and not as got out of you.

Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would first go unto you and prepare beforehand your blessing, of which ye had given notice before that the same might be ready as a blessing, and not as of covetousness.

6 B ut this, he that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that sows in blessing shall reap also in blessing:

¶ But this I say, He who sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he who sows in blessings shall also reap blessings.

7 e ach according as he is purposed in his heart; not grievingly, or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

Each one according as they purpose in their heart, so let them give, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

8 B ut God is able to make every gracious gift abound towards you, that, having in every way always all-sufficiency, ye may abound to every good work:

And God is able to make all grace abound in you that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

9 a ccording as it is written, He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor, his righteousness remains for ever.

As it is written, He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains for ever.

10 N ow he that supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating shall supply and make abundant your sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:

Now he that supplies seed to the sower shall also supply bread for food and shall multiply your seed sown and shall increase the growing of the fruits of your righteousness,

11 e nriched in every way unto all free-hearted liberality, which works through us thanksgiving to God.

so that being enriched in everything to all generosity, which works out through us thanksgiving unto God.

12 B ecause the ministration of this service is not only filling up the measure of what is lacking to the saints, but also abounding by many thanksgivings to God;

For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also abounds in much thanksgiving unto God;

13 t hey glorifying God through the proof of this ministration, by reason of your subjection, by profession, to the glad tidings of the Christ, and your free-hearted liberality in communicating towards them and towards all;

that by the experience of this ministration, they glorify God for the obedience of your consent unto the gospel of the Christ and in your liberal distribution unto them and unto everyone,

14 a nd in their supplication for you, full of ardent desire for you, on account of the exceeding grace of God upon you.

and in their prayer for you, for they love you because of the eminent grace of God in you.

15 T hanks to God for his unspeakable free gift.

Thanks be unto God for his indescribable gift.