2 Corinthians 9

For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:

1I really do not need to write to you about helping God's people.

NoteThe KJV word "saints" means all of God's people, not a small group of special people.

2For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

2I know you want to help. I have been telling the believers in Macedonia about you. I told them you in Achaia were ready to give a year ago. Your excitement has made many of them want to help too.

NoteMacedonia and Achaia were two areas of Greece. The city of Corinth, where these readers lived, was in Achaia.

3Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

3Still, I am sending these fellow believers to you. I do not want my words about you to turn out empty. I want you to be ready, just as I said you would be.

4Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.

4Suppose some people from Macedonia come with me. If they find you are not ready, we would feel ashamed. And you would feel ashamed too.

5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

5So I asked these fellow believers to visit you first. They will help you get ready the generous gift you promised. Then it will be a real gift, given gladly, and not squeezed out of you.

6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

6Here is what I mean. A farmer who plants only a few seeds gets only a small crop. A farmer who plants many seeds gets a big crop. Giving works the same way.

7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

7Each person should give what he has decided in his heart to give. He should not give sadly, and not because someone forced him. God loves a person who gives with a happy heart.

8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

8God is able to pour out every kind of good gift on you. Then you will always have all you need. And you will have plenty left for every good thing you do.

9(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

9The Scriptures say this: "He gave freely to poor people. The good he does lasts forever."

10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

10God gives seed to the farmer who plants. He also gives bread for people to eat. He will give you more seed and grow a bigger harvest of good from your giving.

11Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

11You will have plenty, so you can be generous every time. And when we bring your gift, people will thank God for it.

12For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

12This help does two things. It gives God's people what they need. And it makes many people thank God again and again.

13Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

13This gift shows that your faith is real. So God's people will praise God because you obey the good news about Jesus. They will praise God for your generous sharing with them and with everyone else.

14And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

14They will also pray for you. They will love you deeply because God has been so very kind to you.

15Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

15Thank God for his gift! It is so great that words cannot describe it.

Note"Unspeakable" in the KJV means too wonderful to put into words. It does not mean something bad.