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The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

 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^[a] 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^[b] you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.^[c]

The Cheerful Giver

⁶ The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully^[d] 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^[e] 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^[f] 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!

Footnotes:

1. 2 Corinthians 9:3 Or I have sent
2. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Greek blessing; twice in this verse
3. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Or a gift expecting something in return; Greek greed
4. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Greek with blessings; twice in this verse
5. 2 Corinthians 9:8 Or all contentment
6. 2 Corinthians 9:13 Or you

Cross references:

1. 2 Corinthians 9:1 : [1 Thess. 4:9]
2. 2 Corinthians 9:1 : See Rom. 15:25
3. 2 Corinthians 9:2 : ch. 8:24
4. 2 Corinthians 9:2 : ch. 8:10
5. 2 Corinthians 9:3 : ch. 8:6, 17, 18, 22
6. 2 Corinthians 9:3 : 1 Cor. 16:2
7. 2 Corinthians 9:4 : [Acts 20:4]
8. 2 Corinthians 9:5 : Gen. 33:11; Judg. 1:15; 1 Sam. 25:27
9. 2 Corinthians 9:5 : [Phil. 4:17]
10. 2 Corinthians 9:5 : [ch. 12:17, 18]
11. 2 Corinthians 9:6 : Prov. 11:24, 25; 22:9; Gal. 6:7, 9; [Mal. 3:10; Luke 6:38]
12. 2 Corinthians 9:7 : Deut. 15:10; See ch. 8:12
13. 2 Corinthians 9:7 : See Ex. 25:2
14. 2 Corinthians 9:8 : Phil. 4:19; [Eph. 3:2]
15. 2 Corinthians 9:9 : Cited from Ps. 112:9
16. 2 Corinthians 9:10 : Isa. 55:10
17. 2 Corinthians 9:10 : [Hos. 10:12]
18. 2 Corinthians 9:11 : 1 Cor. 1:5
19. 2 Corinthians 9:11 : [ch. 1:11]
20. 2 Corinthians 9:12 : ch. 8:14
21. 2 Corinthians 9:13 : See Matt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 2:12
22. 2 Corinthians 9:13 : 1 Tim. 6:12, 13; Heb. 3:1; 4:14; 10:23
23. 2 Corinthians 9:15 : [John 3:16; Eph. 2:8]; See ch. 2:14