2 Corinthians 9:3-14
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 9
3But I have sent the brothers, in order that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you will be prepared; 4otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to mention you—would be put to shame by this confidence. 5So I considered it necessary to urge the brothers that they go on ahead to you and arrange in advance your previously promised generous gift, that the same would be ready as a generous gift, and not as one grudgingly given due to greediness.
6Now I say this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows generously will also reap generously.
7Each one must do just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that, always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;
10Now 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;
11you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.
12For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.
13Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all,
14while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.
King James Version
Chapter 9
3Yet 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: 4Lest 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.
6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8And 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:
9As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10Now 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;)
11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13Whiles 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;
14And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 9
3But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you in this matter would not prove empty, and so that you would be ready just as I said. 4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be put to shame in that situation. 5Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.
6The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
7Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.
10Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
11You will be enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.
12For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
13Because of the proof provided by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone.
14And as they pray on your behalf, they will have deep affection for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.
New Living Translation
Chapter 9
3But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you. 4We would be embarrassed — not to mention your own embarrassment — if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them! 5So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.
6Remember this — a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
7You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. 'For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.'
8And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.
11Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.
12So two good things will result from this ministry of giving — the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
English Standard Version
Chapter 9
3But 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. 4Otherwise, 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. 5So 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.
6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And 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.
9As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
10He 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.
11You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
12For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God.
13By 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,
14while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
New International Version
Chapter 9
3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow, but that you may be ready, as I said you would be. 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say anything about you—would be ashamed of having been so confident. 5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
10Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
11You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
13Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
14And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
New King James Version
Chapter 9
3Yet I have sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this respect, that, as I said, you may be ready; 4lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting. 5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a grudging obligation.
6But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
10Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.
12For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God,
13while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men,
14and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.
