2 Corinthians

God Loves a Cheerful Giver

1Now about the service to the saints, there is no need for me to write to you.

2For I know your eagerness to help, and I have been boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has stirred most of them to do likewise.

3But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove empty, but that you will be prepared, just as I said.

4Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.

5So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you beforehand and make arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. This way, your gift will be prepared generously and not begrudgingly.

6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

7Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver.

8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

9As it is written: “He has scattered abroad His gifts to the poor;His righteousness endures forever.”

10Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.

11You will be enriched in every way to be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will produce thanksgiving to God.

12For this ministry of service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanksgiving to God.

13Because of the proof this ministry provides, the saints will glorify God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ, and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all the others.

14And their prayers for you will express their affection for you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.

15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

1It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,

2for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.

3But I have sent the brothers so that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,

4lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting.

5I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.

6Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

7Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.

9As it is written,“He has scattered abroad. He has given to the poor.His righteousness remains forever.”

10Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

11you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.

12For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God,

13seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all,

14while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.

15Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!