1 F or, indeed, concerning the ministration that for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you,

Now concerning 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 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.

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 boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you 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 if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.

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 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

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 will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap 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,

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, 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 toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for 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 endures forever.”

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 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,

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

while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us 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 administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to 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,

while, 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,

14 a nd by their supplication in your behalf, longing after you because of the exceeding grace of God upon you;

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

15 t hanks also to God for His unspeakable gift!

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!