2 Corinthians 9

1 For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: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.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: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.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.6 But this I say, He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he that soweth bountifully shall reap also 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.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:9 as it is written, He hath scattered abroad, he hath given to the poor; His righteousness abideth for ever.

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:11 ye being enriched in everything unto all liberality, which worketh through us 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;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;14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, long after you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.15 Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.

2 Corinthians 9

Preparing the Gift

1 For it is not necessaryt for me to write you about this servicet to the saints,2 because I know your eagerness to help.t I keep boasting to the Macedonians about this eagerness of yours,t that Achaia has been ready to givet since last year, and your zeal to participatet has stirred up most of them.s3 But I am sendingt these brothers so that our boasting about you may not be empty in this case, so that you may be readyt just as I kept telling them.4 For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliatedt (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you.t5 Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contributiont you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous giftt and not as something you feel forced to do.t6 My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generouslyt will also reap generously.7 Each one of you should givet just as he has decided in his heart,t not reluctantlyt or under compulsion,t because God loves a cheerful giver.8 And God is able to make all grace overflowt to you so that because you have enought of everything in every way at all times, you will overflowt in every good work.9 Just as it is written, “Heshas scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.”s10 Now Godt who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your supply of seed and will cause the harvest of your righteousness to grow.11 You will be enriched in every way so that you may be generous on every occasion,t which is producing through us thanksgiving to God,12 because the service of this ministry is not only providing fort the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.13 Through the evidencet of this servicet they will glorify God because of your obedience to your confession in the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your sharingt with them and with everyone.14 And in their prayers on your behalf they long for you because of the extraordinary grace God has shown to you.t

15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!t