1 F or, indeed, concerning the ministration that for 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 have known your readiness of mind, which in your behalf I boast of to Macedonians, that Achaia hath been prepared a year ago, and the zeal of you did stir up the more part,

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 a nd I sent the brethren, that our boasting on your behalf may not be made vain in this respect; that, according as I said, ye may be ready,

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 l est if Macedonians may come with me, and find you unprepared, we -- we may be put to shame (that we say not -- ye) in this same confidence of boasting.

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 N ecessary, therefore, I thought to exhort the brethren, that they may go before to you, and may make up before your formerly announced blessing, that this be ready, as a blessing, and not as 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 A nd this: He who is sowing sparingly, sparingly also shall reap; and he who is sowing in blessings, in blessings also shall reap;

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, according as he doth purpose in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for a cheerful giver doth God love,

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 able all grace to cause to abound to you, that in every thing always all sufficiency having, ye may abound to every good work,

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 ( according as it hath been written, `He dispersed abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness doth remain to the age,')

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

10 a nd may He who is supplying seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits 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 i n every thing being enriched to all liberality, which doth work through us thanksgiving to God,

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

12 b ecause the ministration of this service not only is supplying the wants of the saints, but is also abounding 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 t hrough the proof of this ministration glorifying God for the subjection of your confession to the good news of the Christ, and the liberality of the fellowship 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 a nd by their supplication in your behalf, longing after you because of the exceeding grace of God upon 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 also to God for His unspeakable gift!

Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.