Jeremiah 7:1-28

English Standard Version

Evil in the Land

7 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²^(A)“Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who enter these gates to worship the Lord. ³Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ^(B)Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. ⁴^(C)Do not trust in these deceptive words: ‘This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’

⁵“For if you truly ^(D)amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly ^(E)execute justice one with another, ⁶if you ^(F)do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, ^(G)or shed innocent blood in this place, ^(H)and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, ⁷^(I)then I will let you dwell in this place, ^(J)in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.

⁸“Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail. ⁹^(K)Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, ^(L)swear falsely, ^(M)make offerings to Baal, ^(N)and go after other gods that you have not known, ¹⁰and then come and stand before me in this house, ^(O)which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations? ¹¹^(P)Has this house, ^(Q)which is called by my name, ^(R)become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord. ¹²Go now to ^(S)my place that was in Shiloh, ^(T)where I made my name dwell at first, and ^(U)see what I did to it because of the evil of my people Israel. ¹³And now, because you have done all these things, declares the Lord, and ^(V)when I spoke to you persistently you did not listen, and ^(W)when I called you, you did not answer, ¹⁴therefore I will do to ^(X)the house ^(Y)that is called by my name, and in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your fathers, ^(Z)as I did to Shiloh. ¹⁵^(AA)And I will cast you out of my sight, ^(AB)as I cast out all your kinsmen, all the offspring of ^(AC)Ephraim.

¹⁶“As for you, ^(AD)do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you. ¹⁷Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? ¹⁸The children gather wood, the fathers kindle fire, ^(AE)and the women knead dough, to ^(AF)make cakes for ^(AG)the queen of heaven. And ^(AH)they pour out drink offerings to other gods, ^(AI)to provoke me to anger. ¹⁹^(AJ)Is it I whom they provoke? declares the Lord. Is it not themselves, ^(AK)to their own shame? ²⁰Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, ^(AL)my anger and my wrath will be poured out on this place, upon man and beast, upon the trees of the field and the fruit of the ground; ^(AM)it will burn and not be quenched.”

²¹Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ^(AN)“Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh. ²²For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them ^(AO)concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. ²³But this command I gave them: ^(AP)‘Obey my voice, and ^(AQ)I will be your God, and you shall be my people. ^(AR)And walk in all the way that I command you, ^(AS)that it may be well with you.’ ²⁴^(AT)But they did not obey or incline their ear, ^(AU)but walked in their own counsels and ^(AV)the stubbornness of their evil hearts, and ^(AW)went backward and not forward. ²⁵From the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, ^(AX)I have persistently sent all my servants the prophets to them, day after day. ²⁶^(AY)Yet they did not listen to me or incline their ear, ^(AZ)but stiffened their neck. ^(BA)They did worse than their fathers.

²⁷^(BB)“So you shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. ^(BC)You shall call to them, but they will not answer you. ²⁸And you shall say to them, ‘This is the nation that did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, and did not accept discipline; ^(BD)truth has perished; it is cut off from their lips.

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Jeremiah 7:1-28

New International Version

False Religion Worthless

7 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²“Stand^(A) at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message:

“‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. ³This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways^(B) and your actions, and I will let you live^(C) in this place. ⁴Do not trust^(D) in deceptive^(E) words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” ⁵If you really change^(F) your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,^(G) ⁶if you do not oppress^(H) the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood^(I) in this place, and if you do not follow other gods^(J) to your own harm, ⁷then I will let you live in this place, in the land^(K) I gave your ancestors^(L) for ever and ever. ⁸But look, you are trusting^(M) in deceptive^(N) words that are worthless.

⁹“‘Will you steal^(O) and murder,^(P) commit adultery^(Q) and perjury,^[a]^(R) burn incense to Baal^(S) and follow other gods^(T) you have not known, ¹⁰and then come and stand^(U) before me in this house,^(V) which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things?^(W) ¹¹Has this house,^(X) which bears my Name, become a den of robbers^(Y) to you? But I have been watching!^(Z) declares the Lord.

¹²“‘Go now to the place in Shiloh^(AA) where I first made a dwelling^(AB) for my Name,^(AC) and see what I did^(AD) to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. ¹³While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke^(AE) to you again and again,^(AF) but you did not listen;^(AG) I called^(AH) you, but you did not answer.^(AI) ¹⁴Therefore, what I did to Shiloh^(AJ) I will now do to the house that bears my Name,^(AK) the temple^(AL) you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors. ¹⁵I will thrust you from my presence,^(AM) just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim.’^(AN)

¹⁶“So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea^(AO) or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen^(AP) to you. ¹⁷Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? ¹⁸The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven.^(AQ) They pour out drink offerings^(AR) to other gods to arouse^(AS) my anger. ¹⁹But am I the one they are provoking?^(AT) declares the Lord. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame?^(AU)

²⁰“‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign^(AV) Lord says: My anger^(AW) and my wrath will be poured^(AX) out on this place—on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the crops of your land—and it will burn and not be quenched.^(AY)

²¹“‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices^(AZ) and eat^(BA) the meat yourselves! ²²For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands^(BB) about burnt offerings and sacrifices,^(BC) ²³but I gave them this command:^(BD) Obey^(BE) me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.^(BF) Walk in obedience to all^(BG) I command you, that it may go well^(BH) with you. ²⁴But they did not listen^(BI) or pay attention;^(BJ) instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.^(BK) They went backward^(BL) and not forward. ²⁵From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again^(BM) I sent you my servants^(BN) the prophets.^(BO) ²⁶But they did not listen to me or pay attention.^(BP) They were stiff-necked^(BQ) and did more evil than their ancestors.’^(BR)

²⁷“When you tell^(BS) them all this, they will not listen^(BT) to you; when you call to them, they will not answer.^(BU) ²⁸Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction.^(BV) Truth^(BW) has perished; it has vanished from their lips.

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Footnotes

Jeremiah 7:9 Or and swear by false gods

2 Corinthians 8

English Standard Version

Encouragement to Give Generously

8 We want you to know, brothers,^[a] about the grace of God that has been ^(A)given among the churches of Macedonia, ²for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and ^(B)their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. ³For they gave ^(C)according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, ⁴begging us earnestly ^(D)for the favor^[b] of taking part in ^(E)the relief of the saints— ⁵and this, not as we expected, but they ^(F)gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. ⁶Accordingly, ^(G)we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you ^(H)this act of grace. ⁷But as ^(I)you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you^[c]—^(J)see that you excel in this act of grace also.

⁸^(K)I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. ⁹For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ^(L)though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. ¹⁰And in this matter ^(M)I give my judgment: ^(N)this benefits you, who ^(O)a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. ¹¹So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. ¹²For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable ^(P)according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. ¹³For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness ¹⁴your abundance at the present time should supply ^(Q)their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. ¹⁵As it is written, ^(R)“Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

Commendation of Titus

¹⁶But ^(S)thanks be to God, ^(T)who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. ¹⁷For ^(U)he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going^[d] to you of his own accord. ¹⁸With him we are sending^[e] ^(V)the brother who is famous among ^(W)all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. ¹⁹And not only that, but he has been ^(X)appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of ^(Y)grace that is being ministered by us, ^(Z)for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. ²⁰We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, ²¹for ^(AA)we aim at what is honorable ^(AB)not only in the Lord's sight but also in the sight of man. ²²And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. ²³As for Titus, he is ^(AC)my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers^[f] of the churches, the glory of Christ. ²⁴So give proof before the churches of your love and of ^(AD)our boasting about you to these men.

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 8:1 Or brothers and sisters
2 Corinthians 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks, depending on the context
2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts in your love for us
2 Corinthians 8:17 Or he went
2 Corinthians 8:18 Or we sent; also verse 22
2 Corinthians 8:23 Greek apostles

2 Corinthians 8

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. ²In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.^(B) ³For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,^(C) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, ⁴they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing^(D) in this service^(E) to the Lord’s people.^(F) ⁵And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. ⁶So 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. ⁷But 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.

⁸I am not commanding you,^(L) but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. ⁹For 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)

¹⁰And 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) ¹¹Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness^(S) to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. ¹²For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,^(T) not according to what one does not have.

¹³Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. ¹⁴At 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, ¹⁵as 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

¹⁶Thanks be to God,^(W) who put into the heart^(X) of Titus^(Y) the same concern I have for you. ¹⁷For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative.^(Z) ¹⁸And we are sending along with him the brother^(AA) who is praised by all the churches^(AB) for his service to the gospel.^(AC) ¹⁹What 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) ²⁰We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. ²¹For 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)

²²In 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. ²³As 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. ²⁴Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you,^(AK) so that the churches can see it.

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 8:7 Some manuscripts and in your love for us
2 Corinthians 8:15 Exodus 16:18

Jeremiah 8

English Standard Version

8 “At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be brought out of their tombs. ²And they shall be spread ^(A)before the sun and the moon and all the host of heaven, which they have loved and served, which they have gone after, and which they have sought and worshiped. ^(B)And they shall not be gathered or buried. ^(C)They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. ³^(D)Death shall be preferred to life by all the remnant that remains of this evil family ^(E)in all the places where I have driven them, declares the Lord of hosts.

Sin and Treachery

⁴“You shall say to them, Thus says the Lord:
^(F)When men fall, do they not rise again?
    If one turns away, does he not return?
⁵Why then has this people ^(G)turned away
    in perpetual ^(H)backsliding?
^(I)They hold fast to deceit;
    they refuse to return.
⁶^(J)I have paid attention and listened,
    but they have not spoken rightly;
no man relents of his evil,
    saying, ‘What have I done?’
Everyone turns to his own course,
    ^(K)like a horse plunging headlong into battle.
⁷Even the stork in the heavens
    knows her times,
and ^(L)the turtledove, ^(M)swallow, and crane^[a]
    keep the time of their coming,
^(N)but my people know not
    the rules^[b] of the Lord.

⁸^(O)“How can you say, ‘We are wise,
    and the law of the Lord is with us’?
But behold, the lying pen of the scribes
    has made it into a lie.
⁹^(P)The wise men shall be put to shame;
    they shall be dismayed ^(Q)and taken;
behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord,
    so what wisdom is in them?
¹⁰^(R)Therefore I will give their wives to others
    and their fields to conquerors,
because from the least to the greatest
    everyone ^(S)is greedy for unjust gain;
from prophet to priest,
    everyone deals falsely.
¹¹They have healed ^(T)the wound of my people lightly,
    saying, ‘Peace, peace,’
    when there is no peace.
¹²Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
    No, ^(U)they were not at all ashamed;
    they did not know how to blush.
^(V)Therefore they shall fall among the fallen;
    when I punish them, they shall be overthrown,
says the Lord.
¹³When I would gather them, declares the Lord,
    there are ^(W)no grapes on the vine,
    ^(X)nor figs on the fig tree;
^(Y)even the leaves are withered,
    and what I gave them has passed away from them.”^[c]

¹⁴Why do we sit still?
^(Z)Gather together; ^(AA)let us go into the fortified cities
    and perish there,
for the Lord our God has doomed us to perish
    and has ^(AB)given us ^(AC)poisoned water to drink,
    because we have sinned against the Lord.
¹⁵^(AD)We looked for peace, but no good came;
    for a time of healing, but behold, terror.

¹⁶^(AE)“The snorting of their horses is heard ^(AF)from Dan;
    at the sound of the neighing ^(AG)of their stallions
    ^(AH)the whole land quakes.
They come ^(AI)and devour the land and all that fills it,
    the city and those who dwell in it.
¹⁷For behold, I am sending among you ^(AJ)serpents,
    adders ^(AK)that cannot be charmed,
    ^(AL)and they shall bite you,”
declares the Lord.

Jeremiah Grieves for His People

¹⁸My joy is gone; grief is upon me;^[d]
    ^(AM)my heart is sick within me.
¹⁹Behold, the cry of the daughter of my people
    from ^(AN)the length and breadth of the land:
“Is the Lord not in Zion?
    ^(AO)Is her King not in her?”
^(AP)“Why have they provoked me to anger with their carved images
    and with their foreign idols?”
²⁰“The harvest is past, the summer is ended,
    and we are not saved.”
²¹For the wound of ^(AQ)the daughter of my people is my heart wounded;
    ^(AR)I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me.

²²Is there no ^(AS)balm in Gilead?
Is there no physician there?
Why then has the health of the daughter of my people
not been restored?

Footnotes

Jeremiah 8:7 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
Jeremiah 8:7 Or just decrees
Jeremiah 8:13 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
Jeremiah 8:18 Compare Septuagint; the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain

Jeremiah 8

New International Version

8 “‘At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings and officials of Judah, the bones of the priests and prophets, and the bones^(A) of the people of Jerusalem will be removed^(B) from their graves. ²They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens, which they have loved and served^(C) and which they have followed and consulted and worshiped.^(D) They will not be gathered up or buried,^(E) but will be like dung lying on the ground.^(F) ³Wherever I banish them,^(G) all the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life,^(H) declares the Lord Almighty.’

Sin and Punishment

⁴“Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘When people fall down, do they not get up?^(I)
    When someone turns away,^(J) do they not return?
⁵Why then have these people turned away?
    Why does Jerusalem always turn away?
They cling to deceit;^(K)
    they refuse to return.^(L)
⁶I have listened^(M) attentively,
    but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent^(N) of their wickedness,
    saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course^(O)
    like a horse charging into battle.
⁷Even the stork in the sky
    knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
    observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know^(P)
    the requirements of the Lord.

⁸“‘How can you say, “We are wise,
    for we have the law^(Q) of the Lord,”
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
    has handled it falsely?
⁹The wise^(R) will be put to shame;
    they will be dismayed^(S) and trapped.^(T)
Since they have rejected the word^(U) of the Lord,
    what kind of wisdom^(V) do they have?
¹⁰Therefore I will give their wives to other men
    and their fields to new owners.^(W)
From the least to the greatest,
    all are greedy for gain;^(X)
prophets^(Y) and priests alike,
    all practice deceit.^(Z)
¹¹They dress the wound of my people
    as though it were not serious.
“Peace, peace,” they say,
    when there is no peace.^(AA)
¹²Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
    No, they have no shame^(AB) at all;
    they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
    they will be brought down when they are punished,^(AC)
says the Lord.^(AD)

¹³“‘I will take away their harvest,
declares the Lord.
    There will be no grapes on the vine.^(AE)
There will be no figs^(AF) on the tree,
    and their leaves will wither.^(AG)
What I have given them
    will be taken^(AH) from them.^[a]’”

¹⁴Why are we sitting here?
    Gather together!
Let us flee to the fortified cities^(AI)
    and perish there!
For the Lord our God has doomed us to perish
    and given us poisoned water^(AJ) to drink,
    because we have sinned^(AK) against him.
¹⁵We hoped for peace^(AL)
    but no good has come,
for a time of healing
    but there is only terror.^(AM)
¹⁶The snorting of the enemy’s horses^(AN)
    is heard from Dan;^(AO)
at the neighing of their stallions
    the whole land trembles.^(AP)
They have come to devour^(AQ)
    the land and everything in it,
    the city and all who live there.

¹⁷“See, I will send venomous snakes^(AR) among you,
vipers that cannot be charmed,^(AS)
and they will bite you,”
declares the Lord.

¹⁸You who are my Comforter^[b] in sorrow,
    my heart is faint^(AT) within me.
¹⁹Listen to the cry of my people
    from a land far away:^(AU)
“Is the Lord not in Zion?
    Is her King^(AV) no longer there?”

“Why have they aroused^(AW) my anger with their images,
with their worthless^(AX) foreign idols?”^(AY)

²⁰“The harvest is past,
the summer has ended,
and we are not saved.”

²¹Since my people are crushed,^(AZ) I am crushed;
    I mourn,^(BA) and horror grips me.
²²Is there no balm in Gilead?^(BB)
    Is there no physician^(BC) there?
Why then is there no healing^(BD)
    for the wound of my people?

Footnotes

Jeremiah 8:13 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.
Jeremiah 8:18 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

2 Corinthians 9

English Standard Version

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

9 Now ^(A)it is superfluous for me to write to you about ^(B)the ministry for the saints, ²for I know your readiness, ^(C)of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready ^(D)since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. ³But ^(E)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, ^(F)as I said you would be. ⁴Otherwise, if some Macedonians ^(G)come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. ⁵So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the ^(H)gift^[b] you have promised, so that it may be ready ^(I)as a willing gift, ^(J)not as an exaction.^[c]

The Cheerful Giver

⁶The point is this: ^(K)whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully^[d] will also reap bountifully. ⁷Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, ^(L)not reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^(M)God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸And ^(N)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. ⁹As it is written,

^(O)“He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.”

¹⁰He who supplies ^(P)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ^(Q)increase the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹^(R)You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which ^(S)through us will produce thanksgiving to God. ¹²For the ministry of this service is not only supplying ^(T)the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. ¹³By their approval of this service, ^(U)they^[f] will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your ^(V)confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, ¹⁴while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. ¹⁵^(W)Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 9:3 Or I have sent
2 Corinthians 9:5 Greek blessing; twice in this verse
2 Corinthians 9:5 Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed
2 Corinthians 9:6 Greek with blessings; twice in this verse
2 Corinthians 9:8 Or all contentment
2 Corinthians 9:13 Or you

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) ²For 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. ³But 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) ⁴For 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. ⁵So 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

⁶Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.^(N) ⁷Each 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) ⁸And 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. ⁹As it is written:

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

¹⁰Now 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) ¹¹You 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)

¹²This 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) ¹³Because 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. ¹⁴And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵Thanks be to God^(AH) for his indescribable gift!^(AI)

Footnotes

2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9

English Standard Version (ESV)

New International Version (NIV)

Jeremiah 7:1-28

English Standard Version

Evil in the Land

Cross references

Jeremiah 7:1-28

New International Version

False Religion Worthless

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 8

English Standard Version

Encouragement to Give Generously

Commendation of Titus

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 8

New International Version

The Collection for the Lord’s People

Titus Sent to Receive the Collection

Footnotes

Cross references

Jeremiah 8

English Standard Version

Sin and Treachery

Jeremiah Grieves for His People

Footnotes

Cross references

Jeremiah 8

New International Version

Sin and Punishment

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 9

English Standard Version

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

The Cheerful Giver

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 9

New International Version

Generosity Encouraged

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Jeremiah 7:1-28 English Standard Version

Evil in the Land

Cross references

Jeremiah 7:1-28 New International Version

False Religion Worthless

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 8 English Standard Version

Encouragement to Give Generously

Commendation of Titus

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 8 New International Version

The Collection for the Lord’s People

Titus Sent to Receive the Collection

Footnotes

Cross references

Jeremiah 8 English Standard Version

Sin and Treachery

Jeremiah Grieves for His People

Footnotes

Cross references

Jeremiah 8 New International Version

Sin and Punishment

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 9 English Standard Version

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

The Cheerful Giver

Footnotes

Cross references

2 Corinthians 9 New International Version

Generosity Encouraged

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Jeremiah 7:1-28

English Standard Version

Jeremiah 7:1-28

New International Version

2 Corinthians 8

English Standard Version

2 Corinthians 8

New International Version

Jeremiah 8

English Standard Version

Jeremiah 8

New International Version

2 Corinthians 9

English Standard Version

2 Corinthians 9

New International Version