| NET Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints, | 1Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you. |
| 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. | 2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise. |
| 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. | 3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said. |
| 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. | 4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. |
| 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. | 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the bountiful gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly. |
| 6My 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 one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. | 7Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. |
| 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. | 8And 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. |
| 9Just as it is written, "He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever." | 9As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” |
| 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. | 10Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. |
| 11You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, | 11You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce 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. | 12For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God. |
| 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. | 13Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others. |
| 14And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you. | 14And their prayers for you will express their affection for 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! |
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