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1. I do not need to write to you about helping those who belong to Christ.
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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 do it. I have told the people in the country of Macedonia that you were ready to send money last year. Your desire has started most of them to give.
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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. I am sending these Christian brothers so the words I said about you will prove to be true and you will be ready to help.
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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. What if some of the people of Macedonia came with me and found you were not ready to send your gift of money? We would all be ashamed since we have talked of you so much.
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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. That is why I asked these men to go ahead of me. They can see that the gift you promised is ready. In that way, it will be a true gift and not something you were made to do.
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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, the man who plants only a few seeds will not have much grain to gather. The man who plants many seeds will have much grain to gather.
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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 man should give as he has decided in his heart. He should not give, wishing he could keep it. Or he should not give if he feels he has to give. God loves a man who gives because he wants to give.
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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. God can give you all you need. He will give you more than enough. You will have everything you need for yourselves. And you will have enough left over to give when there is a need.
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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. The Holy Writings say, "He has given much to the poor. His acts of love last forever." (Psalm 112:9)
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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. It is God Who gives seed to the man to plant. He also gives the bread to eat. Then we know He will give you more seed to plant and make it grow so you will have more to give away.
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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. God will give you enough so you can always give to others. Then many will give thanks to God for sending gifts through us.
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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 gift you give not only helps Christians who are in need, but it also helps them give 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. You are proving by this act of love what you are. They will give thanks to God for your gift to them and to others. This proves you obey the Good News of Christ.
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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. They will pray for you with great love because God has given you His loving-favor.
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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. Thank God for His great Gift.
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15. G1161 Thanks G5485 be unto God G2316 for G1909 his G846 unspeakable G411 gift G1431 .
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