| New International Version | English Standard Version |
| 1There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the Lord's people. | 1Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. | 6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. |
| 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. | 7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
| 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. | 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 it is written: "They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever." | 9As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 11You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving 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. | 12For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. |
| 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. | 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 in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. | 14while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. |
| 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! | 15Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! |
| 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. | 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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