| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now concerning 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 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, and I boast about you to the Macedonians: "Achaia has been ready since last year," and your zeal has stirred up most of them. |
| 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 so that our boasting about you in this matter would not prove empty, and so that you would be ready 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, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation. |
| 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. | 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 who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. | 6The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who 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 person should do as he has decided in his heart--not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since 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 every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel 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 distributed freely; he gave 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 the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and 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 for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. |
| 12For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, | 12For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks 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 provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone. |
| 14and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. | 14And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. |
| 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! | 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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