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

For concerning the ministration which for the saints, it is superfluous my writing 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 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.

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;

But 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;

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

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

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.

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, he that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that sows in blessing shall reap also in blessing:

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

each according as he is purposed in his heart; not grievingly, or of necessity; for God loves 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.

But 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:

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

according as it is written, He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor, his righteousness remains 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 supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating shall supply and make abundant your sowing, 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.

enriched in every way unto all free-hearted liberality, which works 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,

Because 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;

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,

they 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;

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

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

15 T hanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Thanks to God for his unspeakable free gift.