2 Corinthians 9 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, (Ro 15:25; 1Th 4:9) 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. (2Co 8:10; 2Co 8:24) 3 But I am sending^[1] the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. (1Co 16:2; 2Co 8:6; 2Co 8:17; 2Co 8:22)

1Co 16:22Co 8:62Co 8:172Co 8:22

4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. (Ac 20:4) 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift^[2] you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.^[3] (Ge 33:11; Jud 1:15; 1Sa 25:27; 2Co 12:17; Php 4:17)

Ge 33:11Jud 1:151Sa 25:272Co 12:17Php 4:17

The Cheerful Giver

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully^[4] will also reap bountifully. (Pr 11:24; Pr 22:9; Mal 3:10; Lu 6:38; Ga 6:7; Ga 6:9)

Pr 11:24Pr 22:9Mal 3:10Lu 6:38Ga 6:7Ga 6:9

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (Ex 25:2; De 15:10; 2Co 8:12) 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency^[5] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (Eph 3:2; Php 4:19) 9 As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” (Ps 112:9) 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. (Isa 55:10; Ho 10:12) 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. (1Co 1:5; 2Co 1:11) 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. (2Co 8:14) 13 By their approval of this service, they^[6] will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, (Mt 5:16; 1Ti 6:12; Heb 3:1; Heb 4:14; Heb 10:23; 1Pe 2:12)

Mt 5:161Ti 6:12Heb 3:1Heb 4:14Heb 10:231Pe 2:12

14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! (Joh 3:16; 2Co 2:14; Eph 2:8)

الكتاب المقدس

1 فَإِنَّهُ مِنْ غَيْرِ الضَّرُورِيِّ أَنْ أَكْتُبَ إِلَيْكُمْ فِي مَوْضُوعِ إِعَانَةِ الْقِدِّيسِينَ، 2 مَادُمْتُ أَعْرِفُ اسْتِعْدَادَكُمُ الَّذِي أَفْتَخِرُ بِهِ مِنْ جِهَتِكُمْ عِنْدَ الْمَقِدُونِيِّينَ فَأَقُولُ: إِنَّ مُقَاطَعَةَ أَخَائِيَةَ جَاهِزَةٌ لِلإِعَانَةِ مُنْذُ السَّنَةِ الْمَاضِيَةِ. وَحَمَاسَتُكُمْ كَانَتْ دَافِعاً لأَكْثَرِ الإِخْوَةِ. 3 وَلَكِنِّي أَرْسَلْتُ إِلَيْكُمُ الإِخْوَةَ لِكَيْ لَا يَنْقَلِبَ افْتِخَارُنَا بِكُمْ فِي هَذَا الأَمْرِ افْتِخَاراً بَاطِلاً وَلِكَيْ تَكُونُوا جَاهِزِينَ كَمَا قُلْتُ؛ 4 لِئَلّا نُضْطَرَّ نَحْنُ، وَلا أَقُولُ أَنْتُمْ، إِلَى الْخَجَلِ بِهذِهِ الثِّقَةِ الْعَظِيمَةِ إِذَا مَا رَافَقَنِي بَعْضُ الْمَقِدُونِيِّينَ وَوَجَدُوكُمْ غَيْرَ جَاهِزِينَ. 5 لِذَلِكَ رَأَيْتُ مِنَ اللّازِمِ أَنْ أَلْتَمِسَ مِنَ الإِخْوَةِ أَنْ يَسْبِقُونِي إِلَيْكُمْ، لِكَيْ يُعِدُّوا أَوَّلاً عَطِيَّتَكُمْ الَّتِي سَبَقَ الإِعْلانُ عَنْهَا، لِتَكُونَ جَاهِزَةً بِاعْتِبَارِهَا بَرَكَةً، لَا كَأَنَّهَا وَاجِبٌ ثَقِيلٌ!

تشجيع السخاء

6 فَمِنَ الْحَقِّ أَنَّ مَنْ يَزْرَعُ بِالتَّقْتِيرِ، يَحْصُدُ أَيْضاً بِالتَّقْتِيرِ، وَمَنْ يَزْرَعُ بِالْبَرَكَاتِ، يَحْصُدُ أَيْضاً بِالْبَرَكَاتِ. 7 فَلْيَتَبَرَّعْ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ بِمَا نَوَى فِي قَلْبِهِ، لَا بِأَسَفٍ وَلا عَنِ اضْطِرَارٍ، لأَنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ مَنْ يُعْطِي بِسُرُورٍ. 8 وَاللهُ قَادِرٌ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ كُلَّ نِعْمَةٍ تَفِيضُ عَلَيْكُمْ، حَتَّى يَكُونَ لَكُمُ اكْتِفَاءٌ كُلِّيٌّ فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكُلِّ حِينٍ، فَتَفِيضُوا فِي كُلِّ عَمَلٍ صَالِحٍ؛ 9 وَفْقاً لِمَا قَدْ كُتِبَ: «وَزَّعَ بِسَخَاءٍ، أَعْطَى الْفُقَرَاءَ، بِرُّهُ يَدُومُ إِلَى الأَبَدِ!» 10 وَالَّذِي يُقَدِّمُ بِذَاراً لِلزَّارِعِ، وَخُبْزاً لِلأَكْلِ، سَيُقَدِّمُ لَكُمْ بِذَارَكُمْ وَيُكَثِّرُهُ وَيَزِيدُ أَثْمَارَ بِرِّكُمْ: 11 إِذْ تغْتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ، لأَجْلِ كُلِّ سَخَاءٍ طَوْعِيٍّ يُنْتِجُ بِنَا شُكْراً للهِ، 12 ذَلِكَ لأَنَّ خِدْمَةَ اللهِ بِهذِهِ الإِعَانَةِ لَا تَسُدُّ حَاجَةَ الْقِدِّيسِينَ وَحَسْبُ، بَلْ تَفِيضُ بِشُكْرٍ كَثِيرٍ لِلهِ. 13 فَإِنَّ الْقِدِّيسِينَ، إِذْ يَخْتَبِرُونَ هذِهِ الْخِدْمَةَ، يُمَجِّدُونَ اللهَ عَلَى طَاعَتِكُمْ فِي الشَّهَادَةِ لإِنْجِيلِ الْمَسِيحِ وَعَلَى السَّخَاءِ الطَّوْعِيِّ فِي مُشَارَكَتِكُمْ لَهُمْ وَلِلْجَمِيعِ. 14 كَمَا يَرْفَعُونَ الدُّعَاءَ لأَجْلِكُمْ، مُتَشَوِّقِينَ إِلَيْكُمْ، بِسَبَبِ نِعْمَةِ اللهِ الْفَائِقَةِ الَّتِي ظَهَرَتْ فِيكُمْ. 15 فَشُكْراً لِلهِ عَلَى عَطِيَّتِهِ الْمَجَّانِيَّةِ الَّتِي تَفُوقُ الْوَصْفَ!