¹It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,

²for I know your readiness , of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia , that Achaia has been prepared for the past year . Your zeal has stirred up very many of them .

³But I have sent the brothers so that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect , that , just as I said , you may be prepared ,

⁴lest by any means , if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you ) would be disappointed in this confident boasting .

⁵I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before , that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness .

⁶Remember this : he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly . He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully .

⁷Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart , not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver .

⁸And God is able to make all grace abound to you , that you , always having all sufficiency in everything , may abound to every good work .

⁹As it is written ,

“He has scattered abroad . He has given to the poor .

His righteousness remains forever .”

¹⁰Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food , supply and multiply your seed for sowing , and increase the fruits of your righteousness ,

¹¹you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us .

¹²For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack amongst the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God ,

¹³seeing that through the proof given by this service , they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all ,

¹⁴while they themselves also , with supplication on your behalf , yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you .

¹⁵Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift !