2Cor.9.1
For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2Cor.9.1
If I wrote any more on this relief offering for the poor Christians, I'd be repeating myself.
2Cor.9.1
There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints.
2Cor.9.1
Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;
2Cor.9.1
I really don't need to write to you about this gift for the Christians in Jerusalem.
2Cor.9.2
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.
2Cor.9.2
I know you're on board and ready to go. I've been bragging about you all through Macedonia province, telling them, "Achaia province has been ready to go on this since last year." Your enthusiasm by now has spread to most of them.
2Cor.9.2
For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action.
2Cor.9.2
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.
2Cor.9.2
For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to our friends in Macedonia that you Christians in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of them to begin helping.
2Cor.9.3
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:
2Cor.9.3
Now I'm sending the brothers to make sure you're ready, as I said you would be, so my bragging won't turn out to be just so much hot air.
2Cor.9.3
But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
2Cor.9.3
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;
2Cor.9.3
But I am sending these brothers just to be sure that you really are ready, as I told them you would be, with your money all collected. I don't want it to turn out that I was wrong in my boasting about you.
2Cor.9.4
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.
2Cor.9.4
If some Macedonians and I happened to drop in on you and found you weren't prepared, we'd all be pretty red-faced--you and us--for acting so sure of ourselves.
2Cor.9.4
For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to say anything about you--would be ashamed of having been so confident.
2Cor.9.4
lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.
2Cor.9.4
I would be humiliated--and so would you--if some Macedonian Christians came with me, only to find that you still weren't ready after all I had told them!
2Cor.9.5
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.
2Cor.9.5
So to make sure there will be no slipup, I've recruited these brothers as an advance team to get you and your promised offering all ready before I get there. I want you to have all the time you need to make this offering in your own way. I don't want anything forced or hurried at the last minute.
2Cor.9.5
So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
2Cor.9.5
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.
2Cor.9.5
So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given under pressure.
2Cor.9.6
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
2Cor.9.6
Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop.
2Cor.9.6
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
2Cor.9.6
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2Cor.9.6
Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
2Cor.9.7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
2Cor.9.7
I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and arm-twisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving.
2Cor.9.7
Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2Cor.9.7
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
2Cor.9.7
You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.
2Cor.9.8
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:
2Cor.9.8
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.
2Cor.9.8
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.
2Cor.9.8
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.
2Cor.9.8
And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
2Cor.9.9
As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
2Cor.9.9
As one psalmist puts it, He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon. His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out.
2Cor.9.9
As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
2Cor.9.9
As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."
2Cor.9.9
As the Scriptures say, "Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten."
2Cor.9.10
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;)
2Cor.9.10
This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God,
2Cor.9.10
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
2Cor.9.10
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,
2Cor.9.10
For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
2Cor.9.11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
2Cor.9.11
wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.
2Cor.9.11
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
2Cor.9.11
while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
2Cor.9.11
Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God.
2Cor.9.12
For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
2Cor.9.12
Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God.
2Cor.9.12
This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
2Cor.9.12
For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
2Cor.9.12
So two good things will happen--the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God.
2Cor.9.13
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;
2Cor.9.13
This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone.
2Cor.9.13
Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
2Cor.9.13
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,
2Cor.9.13
You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts. For your generosity to them will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.
2Cor.9.14
And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
2Cor.9.14
Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need.
2Cor.9.14
And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
2Cor.9.14
and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
2Cor.9.14
And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the wonderful grace of God shown through you.
2Cor.9.15
Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
2Cor.9.15
Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!
2Cor.9.15
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
2Cor.9.15
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
2Cor.9.15
Thank God for his Son--a gift too wonderful for words!
