| NET Bible | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1For it is not necessary for me to write you about this service to the saints, | 1For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the saints; |
| 2because I know your eagerness to help. I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours, that Achaia has been ready to give since last year, and your zeal to participate has stirred up most of them. | 2for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. |
| 3But I am sending these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready just as I kept telling them. | 3But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; |
| 4For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you. | 4otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we-- not to speak of you-- will be put to shame by this confidence. |
| 5Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift and not as something you feel forced to do. | 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness. |
| 6My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. | 6Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. |
| 7Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. | 7Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. |
| 8And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. | 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; |
| 9Just as it is written, "He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever." | 9as it is written, "HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER." |
| 10Now God who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow. | 10Now He 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 may be generous on every occasion, which is producing through us thanksgiving to God, | 11you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. |
| 12because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God. | 12For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. |
| 13Through the evidence of this service they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharing with them and with everyone. | 13Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, |
| 14And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you. | 14while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. |
| 15Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! | 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! |
| NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. //netbible.com. Used by permission. All rights reserved. | New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org |
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