| International Standard Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1I do not need to write to you any further about the ministry to the saints. | 1Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you. |
| 2For I know how willing you are, and I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year, and your enthusiasm has stimulated most of them. | 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. |
| 3Now I have sent the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter may not prove to be an idle boast, and so that you may stand ready, just as I said. | 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. |
| 4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find out that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—in this undertaking. | 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. |
| 5Therefore, I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to visit you ahead of me, to make arrangements in advance for this gift you promised, and to have it ready as something given generously and not forced. | 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. |
| 6Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. | 6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. |
| 7Each of you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or under compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver. | 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. |
| 8Besides, God is able to make every blessing of yours overflow for you, so that in every situation you will always have all you need for any good work. | 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. |
| 9As it is written, "He scatters everywhere and gives to the poor; his righteousness lasts forever." | 9As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” |
| 10Now he who supplies seed to the farmer and bread to eat will also supply you with seed and multiply it and enlarge the harvest that results from your righteousness. | 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. |
| 11In every way you will grow richer and become even more generous, and this will cause others to give thanks to God because of us, | 11You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, so that through us your giving will produce thanksgiving to God. |
| 12since this ministry you render is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, it is also overflowing with more and more prayers of 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. |
| 13Because your service in giving proves your love, you will be glorifying God as you obey what your confession of the Messiah's gospel demands, since you are generous in sharing with them and with everyone else. | 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. |
| 14And so in their prayers for you they will long for you because of God's exceptional grace that was shown to you. | 14And their prayers for you will express their affection for 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: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. |
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