Chapter 9

God Gives Most

1 For ait is superfluous for me to write to you about this bministry to the 1saints;

2 for I know your readiness, of which I aboast about you to the bMacedonians, namely, that cAchaia has been prepared since dlast year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them.

3 But I have sent the brethren, in order that our aboasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, bas I was saying, you may be prepared;

4 otherwise if any aMacedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence.

5 So I thought it necessary to urge the abrethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised 1bbountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a 1cbountiful gift and not 2daffected by covetousness.

6 Now this I say, ahe who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows 1bountifully will also reap 1bountifully.

7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not agrudgingly or under compulsion, for bGod loves a cheerful giver.

8 And aGod is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

9 as it is written,

“aHe scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,

His righteousness 1endures forever.”

10 Now He who supplies aseed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and bincrease the harvest of your righteousness;

11 you will be aenriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing bthanksgiving to God.

12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying athe needs of the 1saints, but is also overflowing bthrough many thanksgivings to God.

13 Because of the proof given by this aministry, they will bglorify God for your obedience to your cconfession of the dgospel of Christ and for the liberality of your 1contribution to them and to all,

14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.

15 aThanks be to God for His indescribable bgift!