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¹ For indeed, concerning the ministry that [is] for the holy ones, it is superfluous for me to write to you,² for I have known your readiness of mind, which in your behalf I boast of to Macedonians, that Achaia has been prepared a year ago, and your zeal stirred up the greater part,³ and I sent the brothers, that our boasting on your behalf may not be made vain in this respect; that, according as I said, you may be ready,⁴ lest if Macedonians may come with me, and find you unprepared, we may be put to shame (that we do not say—you) in this same confidence of boasting.⁵ Therefore I thought [it] necessary to exhort the brothers, that they may go before to you, and may make up before your formerly announced blessing, that this be ready, as a blessing, and not as covetousness.

⁶ And [remember] this: he who is sowing sparingly, will also reap sparingly; and he who is sowing in blessings, will also reap in blessings;⁷ each one, according as he purposes in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver,⁸ and God [is] able to cause all grace to abound to you, that in everything always having all sufficiency, you may abound to every good work,⁹ according as it has been written: "He dispersed abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness remains throughout the age,"¹⁰ and may He who is supplying seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,¹¹ being enriched to all liberality in everything, which works thanksgiving through us to God,¹² because the ministry of this service not only is supplying the wants of the holy ones, but is also abounding through many thanksgivings to God,¹³ through the proof of this ministry glorifying God for the subjection of your confession to the good news of the Christ, and [for] the liberality of the fellowship to them and to all,¹⁴ and by their supplication in your behalf, longing after you because of the exceeding grace of God on you;¹⁵ thanks also to God for His unspeakable gift!