¹ For$ indeed, concerning the relief service $for the holy-ones, it is superfluous for me to write to you°:

² for$ I know your° eagerness, of which I am boasting on your° behalf to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been prepared from the past-year, and the zeal from you° stimulated most of them.

³ But I sent the brethren in-order-that our boasting on your° behalf may not be made void in this respect; in-order-that, just-as I was saying, you° may be prepared;

⁴ lest, if some Macedonians come together-with me and might find you° unprepared, we (that$ we might not say, you°) should be ashamed in this firmness of boasting.

⁵ Therefore, I deemed it necessary to encourage the brethren in-order-that they should go beforehand to you°, and should thus prearrange the proclaimed beforehand bounty. This is to be ready, as a bounty and not as something from greed.

⁶ But I say this, He who is sowing sparingly will also be reaping sparingly, and he who is sowing upon his bounties will also be reaping upon his bounties.

⁷ Let each man give just-as he proposes in the heart; not out-of sorrow or out-of necessity {Or: from calamity} ; for$ God loves$ a joyful giver.

⁸ Now God is able to make abound all grace toward you°, in-order-that having all self-sufficiency in everything, you° should always abound to every good work;

⁹ as it has been written, ‘He scattered them, he gave to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.’ {Psa 112:9}

¹⁰ Now he who is supplying seed to the sower and bread $for food, may supply and may multiply your° seed and may cause the growth of the fruits$ of your° righteousness.

¹¹ You° are enriched in everything to all liberality, which is working through us thanksgiving to God.

¹² Because the service of this ministry$ not only is replenishing the things lacking of the holy-ones, but is also abounding through many thanksgivings to God.

¹³ Through the trial of you° of this service, they are glorifying God upon the subjection of your° confession toward the good-news of the Christ and at the liberality of the generosity$ toward them and toward all;

¹⁴ and in their supplication on your° behalf, a longing-for you° because of the surpassing grace of God upon you°.

¹⁵ But gratitude is to God upon his indescribable gift.