¹⁰And in this ^kI give advice: ^lIt is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and ^mwere desiring to do a year ago; ¹¹but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. ¹²For ⁿif there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

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Cross references

k 1 Cor. 7:25, 40
l[Prov. 19:17; Matt. 10:42; 1 Tim. 6:18, 19; Heb. 13:16]
m 1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:2
n Mark 12:43, 44; Luke 21:3, 4; 2 Cor. 9:7

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

And in this matter I am giving advice because it is profitable for you, who began last year not only to do something but also to want to do it. Now also finish the task, so that just as there was an eager desire, there may also be a completion, according to what you have. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.

NLTNew Living Translation

Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

And I am giving an opinion in this matter, because this is profitable for you who not only began previously, a year ago, to do something, but also to want to do it. So now also complete the doing of it, in order that just as you have the eagerness to want to do it, thus also you may complete it from what you have. For if the eagerness is present according to what one has, it is acceptable not according to what one does not have.

KJV 1900King James Version

And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

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