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

¶ For regarding 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 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 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 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 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 those of Macedonia come with me and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed of this our 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

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 I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

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

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 one according as they purpose in their heart, so let them give, not grudgingly 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.

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

As it is written, He has dispersed 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 shall also supply bread for food and shall multiply your seed sown and shall increase the growing of the fruits of your righteousness,

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

so that being enriched in everything to all generosity, which works out through us thanksgiving unto 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 supplies the needs of the saints, but also abounds in much thanksgiving 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,

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

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

15 T hanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Thanks be unto God for his indescribable gift.