2 Corinthians 9

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 About the help to God's holy people, there is real y no need for me to write to you;	1 Now about the service to the holy ones, it is superfluous for me to write to you,
2 for I am well aware of your enthusiasm, and I have been boasting of it to the Macedonians that 'Achaiahas been ready for a year'; your enthusiasm has been a spur to many others.	2 for I know your eagerness, about which I boast of you to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been ready since last year; and your zeal has stirred up most of them.
3 Al the same, I have sent the brothers, to make sure that our boast about you may not prove hol ow inthis respect and that you may be ready, as I said you would be;	3 Nonetheless, I sent the brothers so that our boast about you might not prove empty in this case, so that you might be ready, as I said,
4 so that if by chance some of the Macedonians came with me and found you unprepared we -- to saynothing of yourselves -- would not be put to shame by our confidence in you.	4 for fear that if any Macedonians come with me and find you not ready we might be put to shame (to say nothing of you) in this conviction.
5 So I have thought it necessary to encourage the brothers to go to you ahead of us and make sure inadvance of the gift that you have already promised, so that it is al at hand as a real gift and not an imposition.	5 So I thought it necessary to encourage the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for your promised gift, so that in this way it might be ready as a bountiful gift and not as an exaction.
6 But remember: anyone who sows sparsely wil reap sparsely as wel -- and anyone who sowsgenerously wil reap generously as wel .	6 Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 Each one should give as much as he has decided on his own initiative, not reluctantly or undercompulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.	7 Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 God is perfectly able to enrich you with every grace, so that you always have enough for everyconceivable need, and your resources overflow in al kinds of good work.	8 Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.
9 As scripture says: To the needy he gave without stint, his uprightness stands firm for ever.	9 As it is written: "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
10 The one who so freely provides seed for the sower and food to eat will provide you with ample store ofseed for sowing and make the harvest of your uprightness a bigger one:	10 The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
11 you wil be rich enough in every way for every kind of generosity that makes people thank God forwhat we have done.	11 You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God,
12 For the help provided by this contribution not only satisfies the needs of God's holy people, but alsooverflows into widespread thanksgiving to God;	12 for the administration of this public service is not only supplying the needs of the holy ones but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God.
13 because when you have proved your quality by this help, they wil give glory to God for the obediencewhich you show in professing the gospel of Christ, as well as for the generosity of your fel owship towards themand towards al .	13 Through the evidence of this service, you are glorifying God for your obedient confession of the gospel of Christ and the generosity of your contribution to them and to all others,
14 At the same time, their prayer for you wil express the affection they feel for you because of theunbounded grace God has given you.	14 while in prayer on your behalf they long for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
15 Thanks be to God for his gift that is beyond all tel ing!	15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!