2 Corinthians, 9

1. About the help to God's holy people, there is really no need for me to write to you;

1. Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the offering for the saints,

2. for I am well aware of your enthusiasm, and I have been boasting of it to the Macedonians that 'Achaia has been ready for a year'; your enthusiasm has been a spur to many others.

2. for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedo'nia, saying that Acha'ia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.

3. All the same, I have sent the brothers, to make sure that our boast about you may not prove hollow in this respect and that you may be ready, as I said you would be;

3. But I am sending the brethren so that our boasting about you may not prove vain in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be;

4. so that if by chance some of the Macedonians came with me and found you unprepared we -- to say nothing of yourselves -- would not be put to shame by our confidence in you.

4. lest if some Macedo'nians come with me and find that you are not ready, we be humiliated -- to say nothing of you -- for being so confident.

5. So I have thought it necessary to encourage the brothers to go to you ahead of us and make sure in advance of the gift that you have already promised, so that it is all at hand as a real gift and not an imposition.

5. So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren to go on to you before me, and arrange in advance for this gift you have promised, so that it may be ready not as an exaction but as a willing gift.

6. But remember: anyone who sows sparsely will reap sparsely as well -- and anyone who sows generously will reap generously as well.

6. The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

7. Each one should give as much as he has decided on his own initiative, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

7. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

8. God is perfectly able to enrich you with every grace, so that you always have enough for every conceivable need, and your resources overflow in all kinds of good work.

8. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.

9. As scripture says: To the needy he gave without stint, his uprightness stands firm for ever.

9. As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever."

10. The one who so freely provides seed for the sower and food to eat will provide you with ample store of seed for sowing and make the harvest of your uprightness a bigger one:

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

11. you will be rich enough in every way for every kind of generosity that makes people thank God for what we have done.

11. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God;

12. For the help provided by this contribution not only satisfies the needs of God's holy people, but also overflows into widespread thanksgiving to God;

12. for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God.

13. because when you have proved your quality by this help, they will give glory to God for the obedience which you show in professing the gospel of Christ, as well as for the generosity of your fellowship towards them and towards all.

13. Under the test of this service, you will glorify God by your obedience in acknowledging the gospel of Christ, and by the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others;

14. At the same time, their prayer for you will express the affection they feel for you because of the unbounded grace God has given you.

14. while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

15. Thanks be to God for his gift that is beyond all telling!

15. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!