2 Corinthians

9 For about the service to God’s people it is superfluous for me to write to you, 2* for I know your heartiness, as to which I am boasting of you to the Macedonians that Achaea has been prepared ever since last year, and rivalry with you has stirred up the greater part of them. 3 But I send the brothers in order that our boast of you may not be made an empty one in this respect; in order that you may, as I said, be prepared, 4 for fear that if Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared we (not to say you) should be shamed about this pledge; 5 so I thought it necessary to request the brothers to go to you in advance and get this already promised bounty of yours into shape in advance to be ready in that way, as a bounty and not as a grab.

6* But there is this, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7* Each as he has his mind made up, not in annoyance nor under compulsion, for God “loves a cheerful giver.” 8 And God is powerful to make all grace superabound toward you, in order that you, always having in every respect all sufficiency for yourselves, may superabound to every good work 9 (as it is written “He scattered, gave to the poor, his sainthood lasts forever”; 10* and he who furnishes seed for the sower and bread for eating will furnish your sowings, and that abundantly, and make the produce of your right-doing grow), 11 enriched with everything for all liberality, which through you produces thanksgiving to God 12 because the dispensing of this service not only supplements the shortages of God’s people but also through many thanksgivings superabounds to God; glorifying God, 13 through the evidence of this ministration, with the good discipline of your professed allegiance to the gospel of the Christ, and the generousness of your solidarity to them and to everybody, 14 and their prayers for you as they yearn over you because of God’s surpassing grace upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.