| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; | 1Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you. |
| 2for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. | 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. |
| 3Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; | 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. |
| 4lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. | 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 exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation. | 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. |
| 6But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. | 6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. |
| 7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for 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 abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for 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. |
| 9As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” | 9As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” |
| 10Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, | 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. |
| 11while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us 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. |
| 12For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings 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. |
| 13while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, | 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 by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in 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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