1 F or it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints;

For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

2 f or I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.

for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them.

3 B ut I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared;

But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:

4 o therwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence.

lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.

5 S o I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.

I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion.

6 N ow this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 E ach one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Let each man do according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 A nd God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

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

9 a s it is written, “ He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, His righteousness endures forever.”

as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever.

10 N ow He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;

And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:

11 y ou will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.

ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.

12 F or the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.

For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God;

13 B ecause of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all,

seeing that through the proving of you by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of your contribution unto them and unto all;

14 w hile they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.

15 T hanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.