2 Corinthians · Bible in Basic English
2 Corinthians 9 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
BBE Bible in Basic English
WEB World English Bible (Classic, with Deuterocanon)
PT1904 Patriarchal Text 1904 (accented, eBible edition)
1 But there is no need for me to say anything in my letter about the giving to the saints:
1 It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,
1 Περὶ μὲν γὰρ τῆς διακονίας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους περισσόν μοί ἐστι τὸ γράφειν ὑμῖν·
2 For I have before made clear to those of Macedonia my pride in your ready mind, saying to them that Achaia has been ready for a year back; and a great number have been moved to do the same by your example.
2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.
2 οἶδα γὰρ τὴν προθυμίαν ὑμῶν ἣν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν καυχῶμαι Μακεδόσιν, ὅτι Ἀχαΐα παρεσκεύασται ἀπὸ πέρυσι· καὶ ὁ ἐξ ὑμῶν ζῆλος ἠρέθισε τοὺς πλείονας.
3 But I have sent the brothers, so that the good things we said about you may be seen to be true, and that, as I said, you may be ready:
3 But I have sent the brothers so that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,
3 ἔπεμψα δὲ τοὺς ἀδελφούς, ἵνα μὴ τὸ καύχημα ἡμῶν τὸ ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν κενωθῇ ἐν τῷ μέρει τούτῳ, ἵνα, καθὼς ἔλεγον, παρεσκευασμένοι ἦτε,
4 For fear that, if any from Macedonia come with me, and you are not ready, we (not to say, you) might be put to shame in this thing.
4 lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting.
4 μήπως ἐὰν ἔλθωσι σὺν ἐμοὶ Μακεδόνες καὶ εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους, καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς, ἵνα μὴ λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς, ἐν τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ τῆς καυχήσεως.
5 So it seemed to me wise for the brothers to go before, and see that the amount which you had undertaken to give was ready, so that it might be a cause for praise, and not as if we were making profit out of you.
5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.
5 ἀναγκαῖον οὖν ἡγησάμην παρακαλέσαι τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἵνα προέλθωσιν εἰς ὑμᾶς καὶ προκαταρτίσωσι τὴν προκατηγγελμένην εὐλογίαν ὑμῶν, ταύτην ἑτοίμην εἶναι, οὕτως ὡς εὐλογίαν καὶ μὴ ὡς πλεονεξίαν.
6 But in the Writings it says, He who puts in only a small number of seeds, will get in the same; and he who puts them in from a full hand, will have produce in full measure from them.
6 Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
6 Τοῦτο δέ, ὁ σπείρων φειδομένως φειδομένως καὶ θερίσει, καὶ ὁ σπείρων ἐπ᾽ εὐλογίαις ἐπ᾽ εὐλογίαις καὶ θερίσει.
7 Let every man do after the purpose of his heart; not giving with grief, or by force: for God takes pleasure in a ready giver.
7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
7 ἕκαστος καθὼς προαιρεῖται τῇ καρδία, μὴ ἐκ λύπης ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης· ἱλαρὸν γὰρ δότην ἀγαπᾷ ὁ Θεός.
8 And God is able to give you all grace in full measure; so that ever having enough of all things, you may be full of every good work:
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.
8 δυνατὸς δὲ ὁ Θεὸς πᾶσαν χάριν περισσεῦσαι εἰς ὑμᾶς, ἵνα ἐν παντὶ πάντοτε πᾶσαν αὐτάρκειαν ἔχοντες περισσεύητε εἰς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθόν,
9 As it is said in the Writings, He has sent out far and wide, he has given to the poor; his righteousness is for ever.
9 As it is written, “He has scattered abroad. He has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever.”
9 καθὼς γέγραπται· ἐσκόρπισεν, ἔδωκε τοῖς πένησιν· ἡ δικαιοσύνη αὐτοῦ μένει εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
10 And he who gives seed for putting into the field and bread for food, will take care of the growth of your seed, at the same time increasing the fruits of your righteousness;
10 Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
10 ὁ δὲ ἐπιχορηγῶν σπέρμα τῷ σπείροντι καὶ ἄρτον εἰς βρῶσιν χορηγήσαι καὶ πληθύναι τὸν σπόρον ὑμῶν καὶ αὐξήσαι τὰ γενήματα τῆς δικαιοσύνης ὑμῶν·
11 Your wealth being increased in everything, with a simple mind, causing praise to God through us.
11 you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.
11 ἐν παντὶ πλουτιζόμενοι εἰς πᾶσαν ἁπλότητα, ἥτις κατεργάζεται δι᾽ ἡμῶν εὐχαριστίαν τῷ Θεῷ·
12 For this work of giving not only takes care of the needs of the saints, but is the cause of much praise to God;
12 For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God,
12 ὅτι ἡ διακονία τῆς λειτουργίας ταύτης οὐ μόνον ἐστὶ προσαναπληροῦσα τὰ ὑστερήματα τῶν ἁγίων, ἀλλὰ καὶ περισσεύουσα διὰ πολλῶν εὐχαριστιῶν τῷ Θεῷ· —
13 For when, through this work of giving, they see what you are, they give glory to God for the way in which you have given yourselves to the good news of Christ, and for the wealth of your giving to them and to all;
13 seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all,
13 διὰ τῆς δοκιμῆς τῆς διακονίας ταύτης δοξάζοντες τὸν Θεὸν ἐπὶ τῇ ὑποταγῇ τῆς ὁμολογίας ὑμῶν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἁπλότητι τῆς κοινωνίας εἰς αὐτοὺς καὶ εἰς πάντας,
14 While their hearts go out to you in love and in prayer for you, because of the great grace of God which is in you.
14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
14 καὶ αὐτῶν δεήσει ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ἐπιποθούντων ὑμᾶς διὰ τὴν ὑπερβάλλουσαν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐφ᾽ ὑμῖν.
15 Praise be to God for what he has given, which words have no power to say.
15 Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
15 χάρις δὲ τῷ Θεῷ ἐπὶ τῇ ἀνεκδιηγήτῳ αὐτοῦ δωρεᾷ.
Cross references (15)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Galatians 6:10; 2 Corinthians 8:4–15; 1 Thessalonians 4:9–10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1; Galatians 2:10
- 2 2 Corinthians 8:10; 2 Corinthians 8:8; 2 Corinthians 8:24; 1 Corinthians 16:15; Hebrews 10:24
- 3 2 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 9:4–5; 1 Corinthians 16:1–4; 2 Corinthians 7:14; 2 Corinthians 8:17–24
- 4 Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 8:1–5; 2 Corinthians 11:17; 2 Corinthians 8:24; 2 Corinthians 9:2
- 5 Genesis 33:11; 1 Samuel 25:27; Philippians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 8:6; Judges 1:15
- 6 Proverbs 11:24–25; Luke 6:38; Proverbs 22:9; Proverbs 19:17; 2 Corinthians 9:10
- 7 2 Corinthians 8:12; Acts 20:35; 1 Chronicles 29:17; Proverbs 11:25; Exodus 25:2
- 8 Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:18–19; Proverbs 10:22; Malachi 3:10; Haggai 2:8
- 9 Psalm 112:9; Psalm 112:3; Proverbs 21:21; Proverbs 8:18; Galatians 5:5–6
- 10 Isaiah 55:10; Hosea 10:12; 2 Corinthians 9:6; Ecclesiastes 11:6; Proverbs 11:18
- 11 1 Timothy 6:17–18; 2 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Chronicles 29:12–14; 2 Corinthians 9:12; Proverbs 3:9–10
- 12 Philemon 4–7; 2 Corinthians 8:14–15; Philippians 2:25; James 2:14–16; 1 John 3:17
- 13 Hebrews 13:16; Matthew 5:16; Galatians 1:24; 2 Corinthians 2:12; 1 Peter 2:9
- 14 Philippians 4:1; 1 Timothy 1:14; 2 Timothy 1:16–18; Philippians 4:18–19; 2 Corinthians 8:6–7
- 15 2 Corinthians 2:14; John 3:16; Ephesians 5:20; Romans 8:32; James 1:17
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Though he had said so much about it, he says here, "It is superfluous for me to write to you." And his wisdom is shown not only in this, that though he had said so much about it, he saith, "it is superfluous for me to write to you," but in that he yet again speaketh of it.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)
… to the end shall be saved." They grieve for sin, hearing that "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." They rejoice in good works, because they hear that "the Lord loveth a cheerful giver." In like manner, according as they are strong or weak, they fear or desire to …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Because then also, when things were desperate, there was a sort of deliverance and reformation; but then by punishment, now, on the contrary, by grace and an unspeakable gift. Therefore the dove also appears, not bearing an olive branch, but pointing out to us our Deliverer from all evils, and suggesting the gracious hopes.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Then, as to what He says, "From him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away," it is to be referred to the mind; for God loveth a cheerful giver. Moreover, every one who accepts anything borrows, even if he himself is not going to pay it; for inasmuch as God pays back more to the merciful, whosoever does …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
"That, always having all sufficiency, we may abound unto every good work." See how they fulfill that word of the gospel which saith, "Give us this day our daily bread," and how they seek even this for spiritual ends.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)