Now ^ait is unnecessary for me to write to you about the ^boffering that is to be made for the saints in Jerusalem; 2 for I know your eagerness to promote this cause, and I have proudly ^aboasted to the ^bpeople of Macedonia about it, telling them that ^1cAchaia has been prepared since ^dlast year for this contribution, and your enthusiasm has inspired the majority of them to respond. 3 Still, I am sending the brothers on to you, so that our ^apride in you may not be an empty boast in this case, and so that you may be prepared, just ^bas I told them you would be; 4 otherwise, if any ^aMacedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of yourselves—will be humiliated for being so confident. 5 That is why I thought it necessary to urge these ^abrothers to go to you before I come and make arrangements in advance for this ^bgenerous, previously promised gift of yours, so that it would be ready, not as ^csomething extorted or wrung out of you, but as a voluntary and ^dgenerous gift.

6 Now remember this: ^ahe who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows ¹generously that blessings may come to others will also reap ²generously and be blessed. 7 Let each one give thoughtfully and with purpose just as he has decided in his heart, not ^agrudgingly or under compulsion, for ^bGod loves a cheerful giver and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift. Prov 22:9 8 And ^aGod is able to make all grace every favor and earthly blessing come in abundance to you, so that you may always under all circumstances, regardless of the need have complete sufficiency in everything being completely self-sufficient in Him, and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity. 9 As it is written and forever remains written,“^aHE the benevolent and generous person SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR,HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER!” Ps 112:9 10 Now He who provides ^aseed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed for sowing that is, your resources and ^bincrease the harvest of your righteousness which shows itself in active goodness, kindness, and love. Is 55:10; Hos 10:12 11 You will be ^aenriched in every way so that you may be generous, and this generosity, administered through us is producing ^bthanksgiving to God from those who benefit. 12 For the ministry of this service (offering) is not only supplying ^athe needs of the saints (God’s people) , but is also overflowing through many expressions of ^bthanksgiving to God. 13 Because of this act of ^aministry, ¹they will ^bglorify God for your obedience to the ^cgospel of Christ which you ^dconfess, as well as for your generous participation in this gift for them and for all the other believers in need, 14 and they also long for you while they pray on your behalf, because of the surpassing measure of God’s grace His undeserved favor, mercy, and blessing which is revealed in you. 15 Now ^athanks be to God for His indescribable ^bgift which is precious beyond words!