2 Corinthians 9:1-5
New American Standard Bible
God Gives Most
9 For (A)it is superfluous for me to write to you about this (B)ministry to the [a]saints; 2 for I know your willingness, of which I (C)boast about you to the (D)Macedonians, namely, that (E)Achaia has been prepared since (F)last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I have sent the brothers, in order that our (G)boasting about you may not prove empty in this case, so that, (H)as I was saying, you will be prepared; 4 otherwise, if any (I)Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to mention you—would be put to shame by this confidence. 5 So I considered it necessary to urge the (J)brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised [b](K)generous gift, that the same would be ready as a [c](L)generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness.
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- 2 Corinthians 9:1 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit blessing
- 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit blessing
2 Corinthians 9:1-5
New English Translation
Preparing the Gift
9 For it is not necessary[a] for me to write you about this service[b] to the saints, 2 because I know your eagerness to help.[c] I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours,[d] that Achaia has been ready to give[e] since last year, and your zeal to participate[f] has stirred up most of them.[g] 3 But I am sending[h] these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be ready[i] just as I kept telling them. 4 For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated[j] (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you.[k] 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution[l] you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift[m] and not as something you feel forced to do.[n]
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- 2 Corinthians 9:1 tn Or “it is superfluous.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:1 tn Or “this ministry,” “this contribution.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:2 tn The words “to help” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
- 2 Corinthians 9:2 tn Grk “concerning which I keep boasting to the Macedonians about you.” A new sentence was started here and the translation was simplified by removing the relative clause and repeating the antecedent “this eagerness of yours.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:2 tn The words “to give” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
- 2 Corinthians 9:2 tn The words “to participate” are not in the Greek text but are implied.
- 2 Corinthians 9:2 sn Most of them is a reference to the Macedonians (cf. v. 4).
- 2 Corinthians 9:3 tn This verb has been translated as an epistolary aorist.
- 2 Corinthians 9:3 tn That is, ready with the collection for the saints.
- 2 Corinthians 9:4 tn Or “be disgraced”; Grk “be put to shame.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:4 tn Grk “by this confidence”; the words “we had in you” are not in the Greek text, but are supplied as a necessary clarification for the English reader.
- 2 Corinthians 9:5 tn Grk “the blessing.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:5 tn Grk “a blessing.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:5 tn Grk “as a covetousness”; that is, a gift given grudgingly or under compulsion.
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