Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 For concerning the ministry that is done towards the saints, it is superfluous for me to write unto you.
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Now it is not necessary for me to write you about the ministry to the saints,
2 For I know your forward mind: for which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia also is ready from the year past. And your emulation hath provoked very many.
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for I know your eagerness, which is the subject of my boasting 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 Now I have sent the brethren, that the thing which we boast of concerning you be not made void in this behalf, that (as I have said) you may be ready:
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But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not prove to have been empty in this case, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be;
4 Lest, when the Macedonians shall come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to say ye) should be ashamed in this matter.
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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—in this undertaking.
5 Therefore I thought it necessary to desire the brethren that they would go to you before and prepare this blessing before promised, to be ready, so as a blessing, not as covetousness.
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So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion.
6 Now this I say: He who soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly: and he who soweth in blessings shall also reap blessings.
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The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 Every one as he hath determined in his heart, not with sadness or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
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Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound in you: that ye always, having all sufficiently 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 by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
9 As it is written: He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever.
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As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
10 And he that ministereth seed to the sower will both give you bread to eat and will multiply your seed and increase the growth of the fruits of your justice:
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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 That being enriched in all things, you may abound unto all simplicity which worketh through us thanksgiving to God.
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You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us;
12 Because the administration of this office doth not only supply the want of the saints, but aboundeth also by many thanksgivings in the Lord.
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for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God.
13 By the proof of this ministry, glorifying God for the obedience of your confession unto the gospel of Christ and for the simplicity of your communicating unto them and unto all.
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Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with all others,
14 And in their praying for you, being desirous of you, because of the excellent 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 that he has given you.
15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
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Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, 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.