1Forastouching the ministeringto the saints, it issuperfluousformetowritetoyou:
2For I know the forwardness ofyourmind, forwhich I boastofyou to them ofMacedonia, thatAchaia was ready a yearago; andyourzeal hath provoked very many.
3Yet have I sent the brethren, lestourboastingofyou should beinvaininthisbehalf; that, as I said, ye may beready:
4Lesthaplyif they of Macedoniacomewithme, andfindyouunprepared, we(that we saynot, ye) should be ashamedin this sameconfidentboasting.
5Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go beforeuntoyou, and make up beforehandyourbounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might beready, as a matter of bounty, andnotas of covetousness.
6Butthis I say, He which sowethsparingly shall reapalsosparingly; and he which sowethbountifully shall reapalsobountifully.
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Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; notgrudgingly, orofnecessity: forGodloveth a cheerfulgiver.
8AndGod is abletomakeallgraceaboundtowardyou; that ye, alwayshavingallsufficiencyinall things, may aboundtoeverygoodwork:
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(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: hisrighteousnessremainethforever.
10Now he that ministerethseed to the sowerbothministerbreadforyourfood, andmultiplyyourseedsown, andincrease the fruits of yourrighteousness;)
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Being enrichedin every thingtoallbountifulness, whichcauseththroughusthanksgivingtoGod.
12For the administration of thisservicenotonlysupplieth the want of the saints, but is abundantalsobymanythanksgivings unto God;
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Whiles by the experiment of thisministration they glorifyGodforyourprofessedsubjectionunto the gospel of Christ, andforyourliberaldistributionuntothem, anduntoall men;
14And by theirprayerforyou, which long afteryoufor the exceedinggrace of Godinyou.