2 Corinthians 9

1Concerning the gift for God's people, Paul does not need to write more to the Corinthians.

2Paul knows their eagerness. He boasts about them to the Macedonians, saying Achaia was ready a year ago. Their enthusiasm has motivated many people.

3Still, Paul sent the brothers so his boasting about them will not prove empty. He wants them to be ready, as he said.

4If Macedonians come with Paul and find the Corinthians unprepared, Paul and his companions would be ashamed. The Corinthians would also be ashamed.

5So Paul thought it was necessary to urge the brothers to go ahead to the Corinthians. He wanted them to arrange the Corinthians' promised gift ahead of time, ready as a generous gift, not squeezed out by greed.

6Paul says this: the person who plants a little will harvest a little. The person who plants a lot will harvest a lot.

7Each person should give what they decided in their heart. They should not give reluctantly or because someone forced them. God loves a cheerful giver.

8God can make all grace overflow toward the Corinthians. Then they will always have enough of everything, and can overflow in every good work.

9Scripture says: “The righteous person scattered gifts everywhere; the righteous person gave to the poor. This righteousness remains forever.”

10God supplies seed to the farmer and bread for food. God will multiply the Corinthians' planted seed and increase the harvest of their righteousness.

11God will enrich them in everything, so they can be generous in every way. This generosity causes thanksgiving to God through Paul and his companions.

12This service does two things: it supplies what God's people lack, and it produces many thanksgivings to God.

13Through this proof of service, God's people will glorify God — because the Corinthians obey the gospel of Christ, and because they share generously with God's people and with everyone.

14God's people will also pray for the Corinthians. They will long for the Corinthians because of the abundant grace of God in them.

15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.