| New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
| 1I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem. | 1I do not need to write to you any further about the ministry to 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 of you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or under compulsion, since 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. | 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. |
| 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 scatters everywhere and gives to the poor; his righteousness lasts 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 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. |
| 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. | 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, |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 14And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. | 14And so in their prayers for you they will long for you because of God's exceptional grace that was shown to 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. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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