King James Version KJV
Revised Standard Version RSV
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 offering for the saints,
2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
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for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedo'nia, saying that Acha'ia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
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But I am sending the brethren so that our boasting about you may not prove vain in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be;
4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
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lest if some Macedo'nians come with me and find that you are not ready, we be humiliated--to say nothing of you--for being so confident.
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
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So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren to go on to you before me, and arrange in advance for this gift you have promised, so that it may be ready not as an exaction but as a willing gift.
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
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The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
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Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
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And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.
9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
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As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever."
10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, 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 resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
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You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God;
12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
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for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God.
13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
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Under the test of this service, you will glorify God by your obedience in acknowledging the gospel of Christ, and by the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others;
14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for 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 in you.
15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
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Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!
The King James Version is in the public domain.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.