| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. | 1For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints, |
| 2For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians: "Achaia has been prepared since last year," and your zeal has stirred up most of them. | 2because I know your eagerness to help. I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, that Achaia has been ready to give since last year, and your zeal to participate has stirred up most of them. |
| 3But I sent the brothers so our boasting about you in the matter would not prove empty, and so you would be prepared just as I said. | 3But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them. |
| 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation. | 4For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you. |
| 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. | 5Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do. |
| 6Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. | 6My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. |
| 7Each person should do as he has decided in his heart--not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. | 7Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because 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 make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. |
| 9As it is written: He scattered; He gave to the poor; His righteousness endures forever. | 9Just as it is written, "He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever." |
| 10Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. | 10Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow. |
| 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 may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, |
| 12For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. | 12because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God. |
| 13They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service. | 13Through the evidence of this service they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing with them and with everyone. |
| 14And they will have deep affection for you in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you. | 14And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you. |
| 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift. | 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! |
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