| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: | 1Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. |
| 2For 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. | 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. |
| 3Yet 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: | 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. |
| 4Lest 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. | 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation. |
| 5Therefore 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. | 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. |
| 6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. | 6Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. |
| 7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. | 7Each person should do as he has decided in his heart--not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
| 8And 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: | 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. |
| 9(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. | 9As it is written: He scattered; He gave to the poor; His righteousness endures forever. |
| 10Now 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;) | 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. |
| 11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. | 11You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. |
| 12For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto 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. |
| 13Whiles 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; | 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. |
| 14And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. | 14And they will have deep affection for you in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you. |
| 15Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. | 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift. |
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