| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. | 1I do not need to write to you any further about the ministry to the saints. |
| 2For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians: "Achaia has been prepared since last year," and your zeal has stirred up most of them. | 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 sent the brothers so our boasting about you in the matter would not prove empty, and so you would be prepared just as I said. | 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. |
| 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation. | 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. |
| 5Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion. | 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: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. | 6Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. |
| 7Each person should do as he has decided in his heart--not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver. | 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 is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. | 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 it is written: He scattered; He gave to the poor; His righteousness endures forever. | 9As it is written, "He scatters everywhere and gives to the poor; his righteousness lasts forever." |
| 10Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. | 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. |
| 11You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. | 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, |
| 12For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of 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. |
| 13They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service. | 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 have deep affection for you in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you. | 14And so in their prayers for you they will long for you because of God's exceptional grace that was shown to you. |
| 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift. | 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! |
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