2 Corinthians 9
Wycliffe Bible
9 For of the ministry that is made to holy men, it is to me of plenty to write to you.
2 For I know your [ready] will, for the which I have glory of you with Macedonians, for also Achaia is ready from a year passed, and your love hath stirred full many.
3 And we have sent brethren, that this thing that we glory of you, be not voided in this part, that as I said, ye be ready.
4 Lest when Macedonians come with me, and find you unready, we be shamed, that we say you not/that we saw you not, in this substance.
5 Therefore I guessed necessary to pray brethren, that they come before to you, and make ready this promised blessing to be ready, so as blessing, and not as avarice.
6 For I say this thing [This thing forsooth I say], he that soweth scarcely, shall also reap scarcely; and he that soweth in blessings, shall reap also of blessings.
7 Each man as he casted in his heart [Each man as he cast in his heart], not of heaviness, or of need; for God loveth a glad giver.
8 And God is mighty to make all grace abound in you, that ye in all things evermore have all sufficience, and abound into all good work [that ye, in all things evermore having all sufficience, abound into all good work];
9 as it is written, He dealed abroad, he gave to poor men, his rightwiseness dwelleth without end [his rightwiseness dwelleth into without end].
10 And he that ministereth seed to the sower, shall give also bread to eat, and he shall multiply your seed, and make much the increasings of fruits of your rightwiseness;[a]
11 that in all things ye made rich wax plenteous into all simpleness [that in all things made rich abound into all simpleness], which worketh by us doing of thankings to God.
12 For the ministry of this office not only filleth those things that fail to holy men, but also multiplieth many thankings to God [but also aboundeth by many in doing of thankings to the Lord],
13 by the proving of this ministry, which glorify God in the obedience of your acknowledging in the gospel of Christ, and in simpleness of communication into them and into all [others],
14 and in the beseeching of them for you, that desire you for the excellent grace of God in you.
15 I do thankings to God of the gift of him, that may not be told.[b]
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 9:10 Forsooth he that ministereth seed to the man sowing, and shall give bread to eat, and he shall multiply your seed, and make much the increasing of fruits of your rightwiseness;
- 2 Corinthians 9:15 I give thankings to God upon the untellable/ unnarrable, or that may not be told, gift of him.
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.
2 Corinthians 9
1599 Geneva Bible
9 1 Why, albeit he think well of their ready wills, 3 yet earnestly exhorteth them, 4 he yieldeth a reason: 6 He compareth alms to seed sowing, 10 which God doth repay with great gain.
1 For [a]as touching the ministering to the Saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you.
2 For I know your readiness of mind, whereof I boast myself of you unto them of Macedonia, and say, that Achaia was prepared a year ago, and your zeal hath provoked many.
3 Now have I sent the brethren, lest our rejoicing over you should be in vain in this behalf, that ye (as I have said) be ready.
4 Lest if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we may not say, you) should be ashamed in this my [b]constant boasting.
5 Wherefore, I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to come before unto you, and to finish your benevolence appointed afore, that it might be ready, and come as of benevolence, and not as of [c]niggardliness.
6 [d]This yet remember, that he which soweth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly, and he that soweth liberally, shall reap also liberally.
7 As every man [e]wisheth in his heart, so let him give, not (A)[f]grudgingly, or of [g]necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all [h]grace to abound toward you, that ye always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in [i]every good work,
9 ((B)As it is written, He hath sparsed abroad and hath given to the poor: his benevolence remaineth for [j]ever.
10 Also he that findeth seed to the sower, will minister likewise bread for food, and multiply your seed, and increase the [k]fruits of your benevolence.)
11 That on all parts ye may be made rich unto all liberality, which causeth through us thanksgiving unto God.
12 [l]For the ministration of this service not only supplieth the necessities of the Saints, but also abundantly causeth many to give thanks to God,
13 (Which by the [m]experiment of this ministration praise God for your [n]voluntary submission to the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution to them, and to all men.)
14 And in their prayer for you, to long after you greatly, for the abundant grace of God in you.
15 [o]Thanks therefore be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 9:1 He wisely meeteth with the suspicion which the Corinthians might conceive, as though the Apostle in urging them so carefully, should doubt of their good will. Therefore he witnesseth that he doeth it not to teach them that they ought to help the Saints, seeing that he had become surety for them to the Macedonians, but only to stir them up which were running of themselves to the end that all things might both be in a better readiness, and also be more plentiful.
- 2 Corinthians 9:4 The word which he useth, signifieth such a stayedness and settledness of mind, as cannot be moved with any terror or fear.
- 2 Corinthians 9:5 As from covetous men.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6 Alms must be given neither niggardly, nor with a loathful mind, or hardly: But as frank and free alms is compared to a sowing which hath a most plentiful harvest of most abundant blessing following it.
- 2 Corinthians 9:7 Determineth and appointeth freely with himself.
- 2 Corinthians 9:7 With a sparing and niggardly heart.
- 2 Corinthians 9:7 Against his will, as loath to be evil reported of.
- 2 Corinthians 9:8 All God’s bountiful liberality.
- 2 Corinthians 9:8 To help others by all means possible, in doing them good in their necessities.
- 2 Corinthians 9:9 Is everlasting: Now David speaketh of a man that feareth God, and loveth his neighbor, who shall never want (saith he) to give to others.
- 2 Corinthians 9:10 There is none so good an inheritance to the godly, as bountifulness is.
- 2 Corinthians 9:12 Another excellent and double fruit of liberality towards the Saints, is this: that it giveth occasion to praise God, and that our faith is also thereby made manifest.
- 2 Corinthians 9:13 By this proof of your liberality in this helping and succoring of them.
- 2 Corinthians 9:13 In showing with one consent, that you acknowledge that only Gospel which you have willingly submitted yourselves unto, declaring thereby, that you agree with the Church of Jerusalem.
- 2 Corinthians 9:15 Lest by his great commendation and praise, the Corinthians should be puffed up, he shutteth up this exhortation, with this exclamation.
2 Corinthians 9
Authorized (King James) Version
9 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous 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. 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: 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. 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.
6 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. 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: 9 (as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 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;) 11 being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us 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; 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; 14 and by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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