| Berean Study Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you. | 1For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; |
| 2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise. | 2for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. |
| 3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said. | 3But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; |
| 4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. | 4otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we-- not to speak of you-- will be put to shame by this confidence. |
| 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the bountiful gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly. | 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness. |
| 6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. | 6Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. |
| 7Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. | 7Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
| 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. | 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; |
| 9As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” | 9as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER." |
| 10Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness. | 10Now He 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; |
| 11You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God. | 11you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. |
| 12For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God. | 12For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. |
| 13Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others. | 13Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, |
| 14And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. | 14while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn 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 Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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