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1. I really do not need to write you about this help for God's people.
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1. For G1063 as touching G4012 G3303 the G3588 ministering G1248 to G1519 the G3588 saints G40 , it is G2076 superfluous G4053 for me G3427 to write G1125 to you G5213 :
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2. I know you want to help. I have been bragging about this to the people in Macedonia, telling them that you in Southern Greece have been ready to give since last year. And your desire to give has made most of them ready to give also.
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2. For G1063 I know G1492 the G3588 forwardness of your mind G4288 G5216 , for which G3739 I boast G2744 of G5228 you G5216 to them of Macedonia G3110 , that G3754 Achaia G882 was ready G3903 a year ago G575 G4070 ; and G2532 G1537 your G5216 zeal G2205 hath provoked G2042 very many G4119 .
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3. But I am sending the brothers to you so that our bragging about you in this will not be empty words. I want you to be ready, as I said you would be.
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3. Yet G1161 have I sent G3992 the G3588 brethren G80 , lest G3363 our G2257 boasting G2745 of G5228 you G5216 should be in vain G2758 in G1722 this G5129 behalf G3313 ; that G2443 , as G2531 I said G3004 , ye may be G5600 ready G3903 :
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4. If any of the people from Macedonia come with me and find that you are not ready, we will be ashamed that we were so sure of you. (And you will be ashamed, too!)
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4. Lest haply G3381 if G1437 they of Macedonia G3110 come G2064 with G4862 me G1698 , and G2532 find G2147 you G5209 unprepared G532 , we G2249 ( that G2443 we say G3004 not G3361 , ye) should be G5210 ashamed G2617 in G1722 this same G5026 confident G5287 boasting G2746 .
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5. So I thought I should ask these brothers to go to you before we do. They will finish getting in order the generous gift you promised so it will be ready when we come. And it will be a generous gift -- not one that you did not want to give.
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5. Therefore G3767 I thought G2233 it necessary G316 to exhort G3870 the G3588 brethren G80 , that G2443 they would go before G4281 unto G1519 you G5209 , and G2532 make up beforehand G4294 your G5216 bounty G2129 , whereof ye had notice before G4293 , that the same G5026 might be G1511 ready G2092 G3779 , as G5613 a matter of bounty G2129 , and G2532 not G3361 as G5618 of covetousness G4124 .
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6. Remember this: The person who plants a little will have a small harvest, but the person who plants a lot will have a big harvest.
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6. But G1161 this G5124 I say, He which soweth G4687 sparingly G5340 shall reap G2325 also G2532 sparingly G5340 ; and G2532 he which soweth G4687 bountifully G1909 G2129 shall reap G2325 also G2532 bountifully G1909 G2129 .
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7. Each one should give as you have decided in your heart to give. You should not be sad when you give, and you should not give because you feel forced to give. God loves the person who gives happily.
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7. Every man G1538 according as G2531 he purposeth G4255 in his heart G2588 , so let him give ; not G3361 grudgingly G1537 G3077 , or G2228 of G1537 necessity G318 : for G1063 God G2316 loveth G25 a cheerful G2431 giver G1395 .
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8. And God can give you more blessings than you need. Then you will always have plenty of everything -- enough to give to every good work.
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8. And G1161 God G2316 is able G1415 to make all grace abound G4052 G3956 G5485 toward G1519 you G5209 ; that G2443 ye, always G3842 having G2192 all G3956 sufficiency G841 in G1722 all G3956 things, may abound G4052 to G1519 every G3956 good G18 work G2041 :
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9. It is written in the Scriptures: "He gives freely to the poor. The things he does are right and will continue forever."
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9. ( As G2531 it is written G1125 , He hath dispersed abroad G4650 ; he hath given G1325 to the G3588 poor G3993 : his G846 righteousness G1343 remaineth G3306 forever G1519 G165 .
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10. God is the One who gives seed to the farmer and bread for food. He will give you all the seed you need and make it grow so there will be a great harvest from your goodness.
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10. Now G1161 he that ministereth G2023 seed G4690 to the G3588 sower G4687 both G2532 minister G5524 bread G740 for G1519 your food G1035 , and G2532 multiply G4129 your G5216 seed sown G4703 , and G2532 increase G837 the G3588 fruits G1081 of your G5216 righteousness G1343 ;)
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11. He will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely. And your giving through us will cause many to give thanks to God.
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11. Being enriched G4148 in G1722 every thing G3956 to G1519 all G3956 bountifulness G572 , which G3748 causeth G2716 through G1223 us G2257 thanksgiving G2169 to God G2316 .
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12. This service you do not only helps the needs of God's people, it also brings many more thanks to God.
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12. For G3754 the G3588 administration G1248 of this G5026 service G3009 not G3756 only G3440 supplieth G2076 G4322 the G3588 want G5303 of the G3588 saints G40 , but G235 is abundant G4052 also G2532 by G1223 many G4183 thanksgivings G2169 unto God G2316 ;
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13. It is a proof of your faith. Many people will praise God because you obey the Good News of Christ -- the gospel you say you believe -- and because you freely share with them and with all others.
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13. While by G1223 the G3588 experiment G1382 of this G5026 ministration G1248 they glorify G1392 God G2316 for your G5216 professed G3671 subjection G5292 unto G1519 the G3588 gospel G2098 of Christ G5547 , and G2532 for your liberal G572 distribution G2842 unto G1519 them G846 , and G2532 unto G1519 all G3956 men ;
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14. And when they pray, they will wish they could be with you because of the great grace that God has given you.
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14. And G2532 by their G846 prayer G1162 for G5228 you G5216 , which long after G1971 you G5209 for G1223 the G3588 exceeding G5235 grace G5485 of God G2316 in G1909 you G5213 .
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15. Thanks be to God for his gift that is too wonderful for words.
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15. G1161 Thanks G5485 be unto God G2316 for G1909 his G846 unspeakable G411 gift G1431 .
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