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2 Corinthians 9
New King James Version

Administering the Gift

9 Now concerning (A)the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you; 2 for I know your willingness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia was ready a (B)year ago; and your zeal has stirred up the majority. 3 (C)Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this [a]confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to [b]exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a [c]grudging obligation.

The Cheerful Giver

6 (D)But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows [d]bountifully will also reap [e]bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, (E)not grudgingly or of [f]necessity; for (F)God loves a cheerful giver. 8 (G)And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 9 As it is written:

(H)“He has dispersed abroad,
He has given to the poor;
His righteousness endures forever.”

10 Now [g]may He who (I)supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, [h]supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your (J)righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, (K)which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only (L)supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, 13 while, through the proof of this ministry, they (M)glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal (N)sharing with them and all men, 14 and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding (O)grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God (P)for His indescribable gift!

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:4 NU confidence.
  2. 2 Corinthians 9:5 encourage
  3. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit. covetousness
  4. 2 Corinthians 9:6 with blessings
  5. 2 Corinthians 9:6 with blessings
  6. 2 Corinthians 9:7 compulsion
  7. 2 Corinthians 9:10 NU omits may
  8. 2 Corinthians 9:10 NU will supply
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2 Corinthians 9
New Matthew Bible

In this chapter he does the same that he did in the chapter going before; that is, moves them to help the poor brethren in Jerusalem.

9 Of the ministering to the saints, it is more than I need do to write to you. 2 For I know your readiness of mind, of which I boast to the Macedonians, and say that Achaia was prepared a year ago, and your ferventness has inspired many. 3 Nevertheless, I have sent these brethren lest our boasting over you should be in vain in this respect, and so that you (as I have said) will prepare yourselves – 4 lest perhaps, if some of the Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, the boast I made in this matter should be an embarrassment to us, not to mention to you.

5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go beforehand to you, to arrange for the good blessing you promised earlier, so it could be ready – so that it is a blessing, and not a defrauding. 6 Remember this: he who sows little will reap little, and he who sows plentifully will reap plentifully. 7 And let every person do as he has purposed in his heart – not grudgingly, or under constraint. For God loves a cheerful giver.

8 God is able to make you rich in all grace, so that you, in all things having sufficient to the utmost, may be rich for all manner of good works. 9 As it is written: He who dispersed abroad and has given to the poor, his righteousness remains forever.

10 He who gives the sower seed will provide bread for food, and will multiply your seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, 11 so that in everything you may be made rich, in all generosity – which raises through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the work of this ministry not only supplies the need of the saints, but is also fruitful in that for this laudable ministering, thanks may be given to God by many, 13 who glorify God for the obedience of your profession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in distributing to them and to all people. 14 And in their prayers to God for you they long after you, for the abundant grace of God given to you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.

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2 Corinthians 9
New International Version

9 There is no need(A) for me to write to you about this service(B) to the Lord’s people.(C) 2 For I know your eagerness to help,(D) and I have been boasting(E) about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year(F) you in Achaia(G) were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers(H) in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.(I) 4 For if any Macedonians(J) come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers(K) to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift,(L) not as one grudgingly given.(M)

Generosity Encouraged

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.(N) 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,(O) not reluctantly or under compulsion,(P) for God loves a cheerful giver.(Q) 8 And God is able(R) to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,(S) you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts(T) to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”[a](U)

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food(V) will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.(W) 11 You will be enriched(X) in every way so that you can be generous(Y) on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.(Z)

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs(AA) of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.(AB) 13 Because of the service(AC) by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God(AD) for the obedience that accompanies your confession(AE) of the gospel of Christ,(AF) and for your generosity(AG) in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God(AH) for his indescribable gift!(AI)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9
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2 Corinthians 8
2 Corinthians 10
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