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2 Corinthians 8-9
New International Version
2 Corinthians 8-9
New International Version
The Collection for the Lord’s People
8 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian(A) churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.(B) 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,(C) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing(D) in this service(E) to the Lord’s people.(F) 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged(G) Titus,(H) just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion(I) this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything(J)—in faith, in speech, in knowledge,(K) in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
8 I am not commanding you,(L) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 For you know the grace(M) of our Lord Jesus Christ,(N) that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor,(O) so that you through his poverty might become rich.(P)
10 And here is my judgment(Q) about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.(R) 11 Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness(S) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,(T) not according to what one does not have.
13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. 14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need,(U) so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[b](V)
Titus Sent to Receive the Collection
16 Thanks be to God,(W) who put into the heart(X) of Titus(Y) the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.(Z) 18 And we are sending along with him the brother(AA) who is praised by all the churches(AB) for his service to the gospel.(AC) 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us(AD) as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help.(AE) 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.(AF)
22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus,(AG) he is my partner(AH) and co-worker(AI) among you; as for our brothers,(AJ) they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you,(AK) so that the churches can see it.
9 There is no need(AL) for me to write to you about this service(AM) to the Lord’s people.(AN) 2 For I know your eagerness to help,(AO) and I have been boasting(AP) about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last year(AQ) you in Achaia(AR) were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3 But I am sending the brothers(AS) 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.(AT) 4 For if any Macedonians(AU) 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(AV) 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,(AW) not as one grudgingly given.(AX)
Generosity Encouraged
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.(AY) 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,(AZ) not reluctantly or under compulsion,(BA) for God loves a cheerful giver.(BB) 8 And God is able(BC) to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,(BD) you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts(BE) to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever.”[c](BF)
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food(BG) will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.(BH) 11 You will be enriched(BI) in every way so that you can be generous(BJ) on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.(BK)
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs(BL) of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.(BM) 13 Because of the service(BN) by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God(BO) for the obedience that accompanies your confession(BP) of the gospel of Christ,(BQ) and for your generosity(BR) 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(BS) for his indescribable gift!(BT)
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us
- 2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18
- 2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9
Proverbs 24-26
New International Version
Proverbs 24-26
New International Version
Saying 20
24 Do not envy(A) the wicked,
do not desire their company;
2 for their hearts plot violence,(B)
and their lips talk about making trouble.(C)
Saying 21
3 By wisdom a house is built,(D)
and through understanding it is established;
4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures.(E)
Saying 22
5 The wise prevail through great power,
and those who have knowledge muster their strength.
6 Surely you need guidance to wage war,
and victory is won through many advisers.(F)
Saying 23
7 Wisdom is too high for fools;
in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.
Saying 24
8 Whoever plots evil
will be known as a schemer.
9 The schemes of folly are sin,
and people detest a mocker.
Saying 25
10 If you falter in a time of trouble,
how small is your strength!(G)
11 Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.(H)
12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”
does not he who weighs(I) the heart perceive it?
Does not he who guards your life know it?
Will he not repay(J) everyone according to what they have done?(K)
Saying 26
13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.
14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
If you find it, there is a future hope for you,
and your hope will not be cut off.(L)
Saying 27
15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
do not plunder their dwelling place;
16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.(M)
Saying 28
17 Do not gloat(N) when your enemy falls;
when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,(O)
18 or the Lord will see and disapprove
and turn his wrath away from them.(P)
Saying 29
19 Do not fret(Q) because of evildoers
or be envious of the wicked,
20 for the evildoer has no future hope,
and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.(R)
Saying 30
21 Fear the Lord and the king,(S) my son,
and do not join with rebellious officials,
22 for those two will send sudden destruction(T) on them,
and who knows what calamities they can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise
23 These also are sayings of the wise:(U)
To show partiality(V) in judging is not good:(W)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”(X)
will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
and rich blessing will come on them.
26 An honest answer
is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Put your outdoor work in order
and get your fields ready;
after that, build your house.
28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause(Y)—
would you use your lips to mislead?
29 Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
I’ll pay them back for what they did.”(Z)
30 I went past the field of a sluggard,(AA)
past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
31 thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.
32 I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest(AB)—
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.(AC)
More Proverbs of Solomon
25 These are more proverbs(AD) of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:(AE)
2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
to search out a matter is the glory of kings.(AF)
3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
4 Remove the dross from the silver,
and a silversmith can produce a vessel;
5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,(AG)
and his throne will be established(AH) through righteousness.(AI)
6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,
and do not claim a place among his great men;
7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”(AJ)
than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
What you have seen with your eyes
8 do not bring[a] hastily to court,
for what will you do in the end
if your neighbor puts you to shame?(AK)
9 If you take your neighbor to court,
do not betray another’s confidence,
10 or the one who hears it may shame you
and the charge against you will stand.
11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver(AL)
is a ruling rightly given.
12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.(AM)
13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
he refreshes the spirit of his master.(AN)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of gifts never given.
16 If you find honey, eat just enough—
too much of it, and you will vomit.(AQ)
17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—
too much of you, and they will hate you.
18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.(AR)
19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
or like vinegar poured on a wound,
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals(AS) on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.(AT)
23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.
24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(AU)
25 Like cold water to a weary soul
is good news from a distant land.(AV)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
are the righteous who give way to the wicked.
27 It is not good to eat too much honey,(AW)
nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.(AX)
28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
is a person who lacks self-control.
26 Like snow in summer or rain(AY) in harvest,
honor is not fitting for a fool.(AZ)
2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
an undeserved curse does not come to rest.(BA)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,(BB)
and a rod for the backs of fools!(BC)
4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
or you yourself will be just like him.(BD)
5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
or he will be wise in his own eyes.(BE)
6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool(BF)
is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.
7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(BG)
8 Like tying a stone in a sling
is the giving of honor to a fool.(BH)
9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(BI)
10 Like an archer who wounds at random
is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,(BJ)
so fools repeat their folly.(BK)
12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?(BL)
There is more hope for a fool than for them.(BM)
13 A sluggard says,(BN) “There’s a lion in the road,
a fierce lion roaming the streets!”(BO)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so a sluggard turns on his bed.(BP)
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.(BQ)
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
than seven people who answer discreetly.
17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
18 Like a maniac shooting
flaming arrows of death
19 is one who deceives their neighbor
and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Without wood a fire goes out;
without a gossip a quarrel dies down.(BR)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.(BS)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to the inmost parts.(BT)
23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
are fervent[c] lips with an evil heart.
24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,(BU)
but in their hearts they harbor deceit.(BV)
25 Though their speech is charming,(BW) do not believe them,
for seven abominations fill their hearts.(BX)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Whoever digs a pit(BY) will fall into it;(BZ)
if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.(CA)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
and a flattering mouth(CB) works ruin.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 25:8 Or nobles / on whom you had set your eyes. / 8 Do not go
- Proverbs 25:11 Or possibly apricots
- Proverbs 26:23 Hebrew; Septuagint smooth
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
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