for I know your readiness, (A)of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready (B)since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. But (C)I am sending[a] the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, (D)as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians (E)come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the (F)gift[b] you have promised, so that it may be ready (G)as a willing gift, (H)not as an exaction.[c]

The Cheerful Giver

The point is this: (I)whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[d] will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, (J)not reluctantly or under compulsion, for (K)God loves a cheerful giver. And (L)God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency[e] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:3 Or I have sent
  2. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Greek blessing; twice in this verse
  3. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed
  4. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Greek with blessings; twice in this verse
  5. 2 Corinthians 9:8 Or all contentment

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