2 Corinthians 9
Paul encourages the Corinthians to give generously to the collection, teaching that he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. He declares that God loves a cheerful giver and is able to make all grace abound toward them, so that they always have sufficiency in all things.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: | As concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you, |
| 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. | for I know your eagerness, of which I boast to the Macedonians, saying that Achaia was ready a year ago — and your zeal has stirred up the majority 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: | Yet I have sent the brothers so that our boasting about you would not be in vain in this matter, but that you may be ready, as I said 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. | Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we — not to say you — would be ashamed of this same confident boasting. |
| 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. | So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go ahead to you and arrange beforehand the bounty you had promised, so that it would be ready as a generous gift and not as a grudging one. |
| 6 | But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. | But this I say: he which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. |
| 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. | Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth 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: | And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, so that always, having all sufficiency in all things, you may abound in every good work. |
| 9 | (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. | As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures 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;) | Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed sown, and will increase the fruits of your righteousness. |
| 11 | Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. | You will be enriched in everything for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving 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; | For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings 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; | While by the proof of this ministry they glorify God for Your confessed obedience to the gospel of Christ, and for Your generous giving to them and to all men, |
| 14 | And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. | and by their prayer for You, in which they long after You for the exceeding grace of God in You. |
| 15 | Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. | Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift! |