American Standard Version ASV
English Standard Version ESV
1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
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Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints,
2 for I know your readiness, of which I glory on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia hath been prepared for a year past; and your zeal hath stirred up very many of them.
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for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.
3 But I have sent the brethren, that our glorying on your behalf may not be made void in this respect; that, even as I said, ye may be prepared:
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But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be.
4 lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.
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Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident.
5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your aforepromised bounty, that the same might be ready as a matter of bounty, and not of extortion.
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So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
6 But this [I say,] He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
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The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 [Let] each man [do] according as he hath purposed in his heart: not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
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Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound unto you; that ye, having always all sufficiency in everything, may abound unto every good work:
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And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
9 as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever.
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As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. ”
10 And he that supplieth seed to the sower and bread for food, shall supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness:
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He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
11 ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.
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You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
12 For the ministration of this service not only filleth up the measure of the wants of the saints, but aboundeth also through many thanksgivings unto God;
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For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
13 seeing that through the proving [of you] by this ministration they glorify God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ, and for the liberality of [your] contribution unto them and unto all;
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By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others,
14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
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while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
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Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025