God Loves A Cheerful Giver
1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
1 Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you.
1 I do not need to write to you any further about the ministry to the saints.
1 Now it is unnecessary for me to write to you about the offering [that is to be made] for the saints [in Jerusalem];
2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
2 for I know your readiness, of which I (C)boast about you to the (D)Macedonians, namely, that (E)Achaia has been prepared since (F)last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
2 For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians:(a)(A) “Achaia(b)(B) has been prepared since last year,” and your zeal(C) has stirred up most of them.(D)
2 For 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.
3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
3 But I have sent the brethren, in order that our (G)boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, (H)as I was saying, you may be prepared;
3 But 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.
3 Now 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.
3 Still, I am sending the brothers [on to you], so that our pride in you may not be an empty boast in this case, and so that you may be prepared, just as I told them you would be;
4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
4 otherwise if any (I)Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence.
4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation.(c)
4 Otherwise, 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.
4 otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of yourselves—will be humiliated for being so confident.
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
5 So I thought it necessary to urge the (J)brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised (b)(K)bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a (c)(L)bountiful gift and not (d)(M)affected by covetousness.
5 Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift(E) you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.(F)
5 Therefore, 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.
5 That is why I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you [before I come] and make arrangements in advance for this generous, previously promised gift of yours, so that it would be ready, not as something extorted [or wrung out of you], but as a [voluntary and] generous gift.
The Cheerful Giver
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
6 Now this I say, (N)he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows (e)bountifully will also reap (f)bountifully.
6 Remember this:(d) The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
6 Remember this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not (O)grudgingly or under compulsion, for (P)God loves a cheerful giver.
7 Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves(G) a cheerful giver.
7 Each of you must give what you have decided in your heart, not with regret or under compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
8 And (Q)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;
8 And God is able(H) to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.
8 Besides, 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.
8 And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
9 as it is written,“(R)He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,His righteousness (g)endures forever.”
9 As it is written, "He scatters everywhere and gives to the poor; his righteousness lasts forever."
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
10 Now He who supplies (S)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and (T)increase the harvest of your righteousness;
10 Now 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.(K)
10 Now 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.
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
11 you will be (U)enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing (V)thanksgiving to God.
11 You will be enriched(L) in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.
11 In every way you will grow richer and become even more generous, and this will cause others to give thanks to God because of us,
11 You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous, and this [generosity, administered] through us is producing thanksgiving to God [from those who benefit].
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying (W)the needs of the (h)saints, but is also overflowing (X)through many thanksgivings to God.
12 For the ministry of this service(M) is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God.
12 since 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.
12 For the ministry of this service (offering) is not only supplying the needs of the saints (God’s people), but is also overflowing through many expressions of thanksgiving to God.
13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
13 Because of the proof given by this (Y)ministry, they will (Z)glorify God for your obedience to your (AA)confession of the (AB)gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your (i)contribution to them and to all,
13 They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of(f) the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity(N) in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service.
13 Because 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.
14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.
14 And they will have deep affection for(g) you in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you.
14 And so in their prayers for you they will long for you because of God's exceptional grace that was shown to you.
14 and they also long for you while they pray on your behalf, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace [His undeserved favor, mercy, and blessing which is revealed] in you.