| Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
| 1Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. | 1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord's people. |
| 2For I know your eagerness, and I boast about you to the Macedonians: "Achaia has been ready since last year," and your zeal has stirred up most of them. | 2For 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. |
| 3But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter would not prove empty, and so that you would be ready just as I said. | 3But 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. |
| 4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation. | 4For 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. |
| 5Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion. | 5So 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. |
| 6The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. | 6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. |
| 7Each person should do as he has decided in his heart--not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. | 7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
| 8And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. | 8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. |
| 9As it is written: He distributed freely; he gave to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. | 9As it is written: "They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever." |
| 10Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. | 10Now 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. |
| 11You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. | 11You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. |
| 12For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. | 12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. |
| 13Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone. | 13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others 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. |
| 14And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. | 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. |
| 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! | 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! |
| The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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