1 F or, indeed, concerning the ministration that for 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 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 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 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,

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 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 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 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.

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 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 who sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he who sows in blessings shall also reap blessings.

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,

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 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 in you that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to 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 has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains 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,

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 i n every thing being enriched to all liberality, which doth work through us thanksgiving to God,

so that being enriched in everything to all generosity, which works out through us thanksgiving unto 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 administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also abounds in much thanksgiving 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,

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 supplication in your behalf, longing after you because of the exceeding grace of God upon you;

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

15 t hanks also to God for His unspeakable gift!

Thanks be unto God for his indescribable gift.