God Loves A Cheerful Giver

1 For indeed concerning the ministry which is to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you.

1 For (A)it is superfluous for me to write to you about this (B)ministry to the (a)saints;

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.

2 For I know your promptitude, of which I am boasting to the Macedonians in your behalf, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal has aroused 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 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 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 But I sent the brethren, in order that our boasting which is in your behalf may not be in vain in this region; in order that, as I was saying, your were 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 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 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.

4 lest perhaps, if the Macedonians may come with me, and find you unprepared, we may be put to shame, in this confidence, (that we may say not, you).

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 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 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.

5 Therefore I considered it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they may come to you beforehand, and perfect your preannounced benefaction, that it may be ready, as a benefaction, not as a stingy contribution.

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 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 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.

The Cheerful Giver

6 But it is this, he that soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall also reap 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 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also 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 As each one has predetermined in his heart; not of reluctance, or of constraint: for God loves the hilarious 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 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 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 But God is able to make all grace abound unto you; in order that, always having all sufficiency in every thing, you may abound unto every good work: as has been written,

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 to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

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.

9 He has scattered abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness abides forever.

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 hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

9 As it is written:He scattered;(I)He gave to the poor;His righteousness endures forever.(J)(e)

9 As it is written, "He scatters everywhere and gives to the poor; his righteousness lasts forever."

10 But he that gives seed to the sower, will also give bread to the eater, and multiply your sowing, 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 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 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 in every thing being enriched in all purity, which works out 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 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us 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,

12 Because the ministry of this free-will offering is not only supplying the deficiencies of the saints, but also superabounding through much thanksgiving to 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 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(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.

13 through the approval of this ministry, glorifying God in the submission of your testimony to the gospel of Christ, and the purity of your fellowship unto them and unto all;

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 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 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 through their prayer in your behalf, earnestly longing to see you on account of the grace of God superabounding unto you.

14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding 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.

15 Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.

15 (AC)Thanks be to God for His indescribable (AD)gift!

15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.

15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

King James Version Public Domain

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 http://www.lockman.org