¹For concerning the service for the holy ones, it is excessive for me to write to you;

²for I know your readiness, which I boast of about you to the Macedonians, that Achaia has prepared itself a year ago, and your zeal has been provoking the greater number.

³But I have sent the brothers, that our boasting about you may not be made void in this matter, that even as I was saying, you may be having prepared yourselves,

⁴lest perhaps, if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we ourselves — that I may not say you yourselves — shall be put to shame in this confidence of boasting.

⁵Therefore I esteemed it necessary to exhort the brothers, that they may go before to you and may complete beforehand your pre-promised blessing, this to be ready thus as a blessing and not as covetousness.

⁶Now this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows upon blessings will also reap upon blessings.

⁷Each one, even as he has purposed in the heart, not out of regret or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

⁸And God is able to make all favor abound to you, so that in every way, always having all sufficiency, you may abound in every good work,

⁹even as it has been written: He has scattered abroad, He has given to the poor, his righteousness abides forever.

¹⁰Now He who supplies seed to the one who sows and bread for food will supply and will multiply your seed for sowing and will increase the fruits of your righteousness,

¹¹in every way enriching you to all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us;

¹²for the ministry of this service is not only completely filling up the needs of the holy ones, but also is overflowing through many thanksgivings to God;

¹³through the proof of this service they are glorifying God at the submission of your confession to the good news of the Anointed One, and at the generosity of the participation toward them and toward all,

¹⁴and by their supplication for you, longing for you on account of the surpassing favor of God upon you.

¹⁵Now thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!