Malachi 3:6-12

Common English Bible

⁶I am the Lord, and I do not change;
and you, children of Jacob, have not perished.

Return to the Lord

⁷Ever since the time of your ancestors,
        you have deviated from my laws
            and have not kept them.
Return to me and I will return to you,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
But you say,
    “How should we return?”
⁸Should a person deceive God?
        Yet you deceive me.
But you say,
    “How have we deceived you?”
With your tenth-part gifts and offerings.
⁹You are being cursed with a curse,
        and you, the entire nation, are robbing me.
¹⁰Bring the whole tenth-part to the storage house so there might be food in my house.
        Please test me in this,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
See whether I do not open all the windows of the heavens for you
        and empty out a blessing until there is enough.^[a]
¹¹I will threaten the one who wants to devour you
        so that it doesn’t spoil the fruit of your fertile land,
            and so that the vine doesn’t abort its fruit in your field,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.
¹²All the nations will consider you fortunate,
        for you will be a desirable land,
says the Lord of heavenly forces.

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Footnotes

Malachi 3:10 Or Until what is required is lacking.

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Common English Bible

⁶What I mean is this: the one who sows a small number of seeds will also reap a small crop, and the one who sows a generous amount of seeds will also reap a generous crop.

⁷Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need always and in everything to provide more than enough for every kind of good work. ⁹As it is written, He scattered everywhere; he gave to the needy; his righteousness remains forever.^[a]

¹⁰The one who supplies seed for planting and bread for eating will supply and multiply your seed and will increase your crop, which is righteousness. ¹¹You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous in every way. Such generosity produces thanksgiving to God through us. ¹²Your ministry of this service to God’s people isn’t only fully meeting their needs but it is also multiplying in many expressions of thanksgiving to God. ¹³They will give honor to God for your obedience to your confession of Christ’s gospel. They will do this because this service provides evidence of your obedience, and because of your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone. ¹⁴They will also pray for you, and they will care deeply for you because of the outstanding grace that God has given to you. ¹⁵Thank God for his gift that words can’t describe!

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