| New Living Translation | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. | 1Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. |
| 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 eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians: "Achaia has been prepared 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 sent the brothers so our boasting about you in the matter would not prove empty, and so you would be prepared just as I said. |
| 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! | 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 6Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. |
| 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 person should do as he has decided in his heart--not reluctantly or out of necessity, 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 every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel 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 scattered; He gave 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. | 10Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed 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 for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. |
| 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 acts of thanksgiving 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. | 13They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service. |
| 14And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. | 14And they will have deep affection for you in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you. |
| 15Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words! | 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable 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. | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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