2 Corinthians 9

1 Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.

2 For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.

3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said.

4 Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident in our boasting.

5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the generous gift that was announced. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

7 Each one should give what he decides in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

9 As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

10 Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food supply and multiply your store of seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

11 May you be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your generosity may produce thanksgiving to God.

12 For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.

13 Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.

14 And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

1 ¶ For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as [a matter of] bounty, and not as [of] covetousness.

6 ¶ But this [I say], He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, [so let him give]; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work:

9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for [your] food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for [your] liberal distribution unto them, and unto all [men];

14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

15 Thanks [be] unto God for his unspeakable gift.

1 For of such a tax as befalleth the saints I have no need to write unto you.

2 For I know your good will, whereof I boast of them of Macedonia, saying, Achaia was ready before the year. And your example hath provoked many.

3 But I have sent these brethren for this cause, that our glory might not be destroyed from you in the piece, and that ye might be ready, even as I said of you,

4 Lest, when they that are of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (not ye) be put to shame with such a boast.

5 But I have judged it necessary to exhort the brethren to go forward unto you, to prepare this aforetime promised blessing, that it may be prepared, that it may be a blessing, and not a covetousness.

6 But this is what I mean: He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth in blessing shall reap also in blessing.

7 Every man according to his own will, not unwillingly, nor under compulsion: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8 But God is able to make all grace abound among you, that ye may have full sufficiency in all things, and be rich in all good works,

9 As it is written, He hath strewed out and given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever.

10 But he that giveth seed to the sower shall also give bread for meat, and shall multiply your seed, and increase the increase of your righteousness:]

11 That ye may abound in all things with all simplicity, which worketh thanksgiving unto God through us.

12 For the giving of this tax satisfieth not only the want of the saints, but is also exceeding abundant in that many give thanks unto God for this our faithful service.

13 and praise God over your humble confession of the gospel of Christ and over your simple taxation of them and of everyone

14 and over their prayer for you, which desireth you, because of the abundant grace of GOD in you.

15 But thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift!