Chapter 9

¹For, indeed, concerning the ministration that [is] for the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you, ²for I have known your readiness of mind, which in your behalf I boast of to Macedonians, that Achaia hath been prepared a year ago, and the zeal of you did stir up the more part, ³and I sent the brethren, that our boasting on your behalf may not be made vain in this respect; that, according as I said, ye may be ready, ⁴lest if Macedonians may come with me, and find you unprepared, we -- we may be put to shame (that we say not -- ye) in this same confidence of boasting. ⁵Necessary, therefore, I thought [it] to exhort the brethren, that they may go before to you, and may make up before your formerly announced blessing, that this be ready, as a blessing, and not as covetousness. ⁶And this: He who is sowing sparingly, sparingly also shall reap; and he who is sowing in blessings, in blessings also shall reap; ⁷each one, according as he doth purpose in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for a cheerful giver doth God love, ⁸and God [is] able all grace to cause to abound to you, that in every thing always all sufficiency having, ye may abound to every good work, ⁹(according as it hath been written, `He dispersed abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness doth remain to the age,`) ¹⁰and may He who is supplying seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, ¹¹in every thing being enriched to all liberality, which doth work through us thanksgiving to God, ¹²because the ministration of this service not only is supplying the wants of the saints, but is also abounding through many thanksgivings to God, ¹³through the proof of this ministration glorifying God for the subjection of your confession to the good news of the Christ, and [for] the liberality of the fellowship to them and to all, ¹⁴and by their supplication in your behalf, longing after you because of the exceeding grace of God upon you; ¹⁵thanks also to God for His unspeakable gift!