| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; | 1Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, |
| 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 readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that 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 may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. |
| 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 some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being 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 go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. |
| 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: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. |
| 7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. | 7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under 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 having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may 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 distributed freely, he has given 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, | 10He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing 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 to be generous in every way, which through us 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 the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings 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, | 13By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, |
| 14and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. | 14while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. |
| 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! | 15Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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