2.Korinther 9 | New International Reader’s Version

1 I don’t need to write to you about giving to the Lord’s people.

2 I know how much you want to help. I have been boasting about it to the people in Macedonia. I have been telling them that since last year you who live in Achaia were ready to give. You are so excited that it has stirred up most of them to take action.

3 But I am sending the brothers. Then our boasting about you in this matter will have a good reason. You will be ready, just as I said you would be.

4 Suppose people from Macedonia come with me and find out that you are not prepared. Then we, as well as you, would be ashamed of being so certain.

5 So I thought I should try to get the brothers to visit you in advance. They will finish the plans for the large gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a gift freely given. It will not be given by force.

Paul’s advice to give freely

6 Here is something to remember. The one who plants only a little will gather only a little. And the one who plants a lot will gather a lot.

7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You shouldn’t give if you don’t want to. You shouldn’t give because you are forced to. God loves a cheerful giver.

8 And God is able to shower all kinds of blessings on you. So in all things and at all times you will have everything you need. You will do more and more good works.

9 It is written, ‘They have spread their gifts around to poor people. Their good works continue for ever.’

10 God supplies seed for the person who plants. He supplies bread for food. God will also supply and increase the amount of your seed. He will increase the results of your good works.

11 You will be made rich in every way. Then you can always give freely. We will take your many gifts to the people who need them. And they will give thanks to God.

12 Your gifts meet the needs of the Lord’s people. And that’s not all. Your gifts also cause many people to thank God.

13 You have shown yourselves to be worthy by what you have given. So other people will praise God because you obey him. That proves that you really believe the good news about Christ. They will also praise God because you share freely with them and with everyone else.

14 Their hearts will be filled with love for you when they pray for you. God has given you grace that is better than anything.

15 Let us give thanks to God for his gift. It is so great that no one can tell how wonderful it really is!

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English Standard Version

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

1 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 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 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 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 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.*

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully* will also reap bountifully.

7 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 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 has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

10 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 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

12 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 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 long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.

15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

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