1. There is really no need for me to write to you about the help being sent to God's people in Judea.
2. I know that you are willing to help, and I have boasted of you to the people in Macedonia. “The brothers and sisters in Achaia,” I said, “have been ready to help since last year.” Your eagerness has stirred up most of them.
3. Now I am sending these brothers and sisters, so that our boasting about you in this matter may not turn out to be empty words. But, just as I said, you will be ready with your help.
4. However, if the people from Macedonia should come with me and find out that you are not ready, how ashamed we would be — not to speak of your shame — for feeling so sure of you!
5. So I thought it was necessary to urge these brothers and sisters to go to you ahead of me and get ready in advance the gift you promised to make. Then it will be ready when I arrive, and it will show that you give because you want to, not because you have to.
6. Remember that the person who sows few seeds will have a small crop; the one who sows many seeds will have a large crop.
7. You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly.
8. And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause.