| New Living Translation | English Standard Version |
| 1I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. | 1Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, |
| 2For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving. | 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. |
| 3But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. | 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. |
| 4We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! | 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. |
| 5So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly. | 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. |
| 6Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. | 6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. |
| 7You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” | 7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
| 8And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. | 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 the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.” | 9As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” |
| 10For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. | 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. |
| 11Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. | 11You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. |
| 12So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks 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. |
| 13As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. | 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 they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. | 14while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. |
| 15Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! | 15Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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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