| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; | 1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord's people. |
| 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 about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. |
| 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 hollow, but 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. | 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we--not to say anything about 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 in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. |
| 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 of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, 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 bless you abundantly, 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: "They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their 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 also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge 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 so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in 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, | 12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people 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 service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. |
| 14and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. | 14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to 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! |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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