2 Corinthians 6:10
 2 Corinthians 6:10 
New International Version (©2011)
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

New Living Translation (©2007)
Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

English Standard Version (©2001)
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
as grieving yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing yet possessing everything.

International Standard Version (©2012)
as sorrowful and yet always rejoicing, as poor and yet enriching many, as having nothing and yet possessing everything.

NET Bible (©2006)
as sorrowful, but always rejoicing, as poor, but making many rich, as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
As if we sorrow and we always rejoice, as if poor and we make many rich, as if we have nothing and yet we possess everything.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
People think we are sad although we're always glad, that we're beggars although we make many people spiritually rich, that we have nothing although we possess everything.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

American King James Version
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

American Standard Version
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Douay-Rheims Bible
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as needy, yet enriching many; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

Darby Bible Translation
as grieved, but always rejoicing; as poor, but enriching many; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

English Revised Version
as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Webster's Bible Translation
As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Weymouth New Testament
as sad, but we are always joyful; as poor, but we bestow wealth on many; as having nothing, and yet we securely possess all things.

World English Bible
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Young's Literal Translation
as sorrowful, and always rejoicing; as poor, and making many rich; as having nothing, and possessing all things.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

6:1-10 The gospel is a word of grace sounding in our ears. The gospel day is a day of salvation, the means of grace the means of salvation, the offers of the gospel the offers of salvation, and the present time the proper time to accept these offers. The morrow is none of ours: we know not what will be on the morrow, nor where we shall be. We now enjoy a day of grace; then let all be careful not to neglect it. Ministers of the gospel should look upon themselves as God's servants, and act in every thing suitably to that character. The apostle did so, by much patience in afflictions, by acting from good principles, and by due temper and behaviour. Believers, in this world, need the grace of God, to arm them against temptations, so as to bear the good report of men without pride; and so as to bear their reproaches with patience. They have nothing in themselves, but possess all things in Christ. Of such differences is a Christian's life made up, and through such a variety of conditions and reports, is our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all things to approve ourselves to God. The gospel, when faithfully preached, and fully received, betters the condition even of the poorest. They save what before they riotously spent, and diligently employ their time to useful purposes. They save and gain by religion, and thus are made rich, both for the world to come and for this, when compared with their sinful, profligate state, before they received the gospel.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 10. - As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing. The early Christians always insist on "joy" as one of the fruits of the Spirit (comp. Matthew 5:10-12), and especially joy in the midst of grief and anguish (Romans 5:3; Romans 14:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:16, "Rejoice always"). The best proof that this was no mere phraseology, but an amazing and new charism granted to the world, may be seen in the Epistle to the Philippians. It was written when St. Paul was old, poor, deserted, imprisoned, in danger of immediate death. and apparently in the lowest deeps of forsakes sorrow; vet the spontaneous keynote of the whole Epistle is, "I rejoice; rejoice ye" (Philippians 4:6, 12). As poor. The word means even "paupers," and describes a very literal fact. St. Paul, for Christ's sake, had suffered "the loss of all things" (Philippians 3:8). Yet making many rich. Not by getting collections for them (which would be a most unworthy antithesis, though it is strangely accepted by Chrysostom and others); but "by imparting to them the true riches, in the form of spiritual gifts, and the teaching of the gospel" (comp. James 2:5). Possessing all things; rather, as having nothing, and fully having all things. The verb means "possessing all things to the full." For "all things are ours" (1 Corinthians 3:21, 22).


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing,.... As to their outward appearance they are

sorrowful, and oftentimes really so on account of sin, their own and others, by reason of afflictions, temporal and spiritual; and as to the state and condition of the church of Christ, and the interest of religion: and

yet always rejoicing; not in themselves, or in any creature, but in the Lord, in the person, blood, and righteousness of Christ, and salvation by him. As poor, yet making many rich. It is, generally speaking, the lot of Christ's ministers to be poor in this world; and there are some reasons for it, why it is, and should be so; as that they might be maintained by the people, which is the ordinance of God; that it might appear that Christ's kingdom is not of this world; that the faith of men might not stand in the riches of the world, but in the power of God; that ministers might not be above their work, nor neglect it, nor drop it; and that they might not be ensnared and encumbered with the things of life.

And yet making many rich: are instruments in making many souls rich in things spiritual; by showing them their spiritual poverty, stripping them of what they trusted in, and valued themselves upon; directing them where true riches are, and furnishing them with spiritual knowledge, with the knowledge of things more worth than thousands of gold and silver.

As having nothing, and yet possessing all things; for the apostles left all for Christ, were sent out bare by him; what they had they gave away, and were very destitute of worldly enjoyments: "and possessing all things"; they had food and raiment, with which they were content, what was sufficient for them, and which they had in mercy, and with a blessing; and then they enjoyed all spiritual good things; they had not only a right unto them, but were possessed of them; they had all things pertaining to life and godliness; they had Christ, and all things with him, and therefore could say as Jacob did, that they had enough, yea, that they had all things.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10. The "as" no longer is used to express the opinion of his adversaries, but the real state of him and his fellow laborers.

making many rich—Spiritually (1Co 1:5), after the example of our Lord, who "by His poverty made many rich" (2Co 8:9).

having nothing—Whatever of earthly goods we have, and these are few, we have as though we had not; as tenants removable at will, not owners (1Co 7:30).

possessing all things—The Greek implies firm possession, holding fast in possession (compare 1Co 3:21, 22). The things both of the present and of the future are, in the truest sense, the believer's in possession, for he possesses them all in Christ, his lasting possession, though the full fruition of them is reserved for the future eternity.


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Paul's Hardships and God's Grace
9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 11O you Corinthians, our mouth is open to you, our heart is enlarged. …

Proverbs 13:7 One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
John 16:22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.
Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."
Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
1 Corinthians 1:5 For in him you have been enriched in every way--with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge--
1 Corinthians 3:21 So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours,
2 Corinthians 7:4 I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
Philippians 2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Colossians 1:24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.