1 N ow concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;

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

2 f or I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority.

for 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.

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

Yet 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:

4 l est if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.

lest 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.

5 T herefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. The Cheerful Giver

Therefore 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.

6 B ut 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 which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 S o let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

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

8 A nd God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

And 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:

9 A s it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

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

10 N ow may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

Now 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;)

11 w hile you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

12 F or the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,

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

13 w hile, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,

whiles 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;

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

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

15 T hanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.