II Corinthians 9-10

II Corinthians 9

¹But there is no need for me to say anything in my letter about the giving to the saints:

²For 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.

³But 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:

⁴For 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.

⁵So 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.

⁶But 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.

⁷Let every man do after the purpose of his heart; not giving with grief, or by force: for God takes pleasure in a ready giver.

⁸And 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:

⁹As it is said in the Writings, He has sent out far and wide, he has given to the poor; his righteousness is for ever.

¹⁰And 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;

¹¹Your wealth being increased in everything, with a simple mind, causing praise to God through us.

¹²For this work of giving not only takes care of the needs of the saints, but is the cause of much praise to God;

¹³For 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;

¹⁴While their hearts go out to you in love and in prayer for you, because of the great grace of God which is in you.

¹⁵Praise be to God for what he has given, which words have no power to say.

II Corinthians 10

¹Now I, Paul, myself make request to you by the quiet and gentle behaviour of Christ, I who am poor in spirit when with you, but who say what is in my mind to you without fear when I am away from you:

²Yes, I make my request to you, so that when I am with you I may not have to make use of the authority which may be needed against some to whom we seem to be walking after the flesh.

³For though we may be living in the flesh, we are not fighting after the way of the flesh

⁴(For the arms with which we are fighting are not those of the flesh, but are strong before God for the destruction of high places);

⁵Putting an end to reasonings, and every high thing which is lifted up against the knowledge of God, and causing every thought to come under the authority of Christ;

⁶Being ready to give punishment to whatever is against his authority, after you have made it clear that you are completely under his control.

⁷Give attention to the things which are before you. If any man seems to himself to be Christ's, let him keep in mind that we are as much Christ's as he is.

⁸For though I might take pride in our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for your destruction), it will not be a cause of shame to me:

⁹That I may not seem to have the desire of causing you fear by my letters.

¹⁰For his letters, they say, have weight and are strong; but in body he is feeble, and his way of talking has little force.

¹¹Let those who say this keep in mind that, what we are in word by letters when we are away, so will we be in act when we are present.

¹²For we will not make comparison of ourselves with some of those who say good things about themselves: but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and making comparison of themselves with themselves, are not wise.

¹³We will not give glory to ourselves in over-great measure, but after the measure of the rule which God has given us, a measure which comes even to you.

¹⁴For we have no need to make ourselves seem more than we are, as if our authority did not come as far as to you: for we came even as far as you with the good news of Christ:

¹⁵Not taking credit to ourselves for what is not our business, that is, for the work of others; but having hope that, with the growth of your faith, we may get the credit for an increase which is the effect of our work,

¹⁶So that we may be able to go on and take the good news to countries still farther away than you are, and not take credit for another man's work in making things ready to our hand.

¹⁷But whoever has a desire for glory, let his glory be in the Lord.

¹⁸For the Lord's approval of a man is not dependent on his opinion of himself, but on the Lord's opinion of him.