| King James Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: | 1I do not need to write to you any further about the ministry to the saints. |
| 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 how willing you are, and I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year, and your enthusiasm has stimulated 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: | 3Now I have sent the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter may not prove to be an idle boast, and so that you may stand ready, 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. | 4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find out that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—in this undertaking. |
| 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 thought it necessary to urge these brothers to visit you ahead of me, to make arrangements in advance for this gift you promised, and to have it ready as something given generously and not forced. |
| 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 of you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or under compulsion, since 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: | 8Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any 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 scatters everywhere and gives to the poor; his righteousness lasts 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 he who supplies seed to the farmer and bread to eat will also supply you with seed and multiply it and enlarge the harvest that results from your righteousness. |
| 11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. | 11In every way you will grow richer and become even more generous, and this will cause others to give thanks to God because of us, |
| 12For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; | 12since this ministry you render is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, it is also overflowing with more and more prayers 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; | 13Because your service in giving proves your love, you will be glorifying God as you obey what your confession of the Messiah's gospel demands, since you are generous in sharing with them and with everyone else. |
| 14And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. | 14And so in their prayers for you they will long for you because of God's exceptional grace that was shown to you. |
| 15Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. | 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! |
| King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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