帮助圣徒的捐款
关于供给圣徒的事，我本来不必写信给你们；
For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you:
2因为我知道你们的好意，常对马其顿人夸奖你们，说亚该亚人预备好已经有一年了。你们的热心感动了许多人。For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.
3但我差遣那几位弟兄去，要使你们照我的话预备妥当，免得我们在这事上夸奖你们的话落了空。Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
4万一有马其顿人与我同去，见你们没有预备好，就使我们所确信的反成了羞愧；你们的羞愧更不用说了。Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.
5因此，我想必须鼓励那几位弟兄先到你们那里去，把从前所应许的捐款预备妥当，好显出你们所捐的是出于乐意，不是出于勉强。Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.
6还有一点：“少种的少收；多种的多收。”But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
7各人要随心所愿，不要为难，不要勉强，因为神爱乐捐的人。Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
8神能将各样的恩惠多多加给你们，使你们凡事常常充足，能多做各样善事。And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
9如经上所记： “他施舍，周济贫穷； 他的义行存到永远。”(As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10那赐种子给撒种的，赐粮食给人吃的，必多多加给你们种地的种子，又增添你们仁义的果子。Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11你们必凡事富足，能多多施舍，使人藉着我们而生感谢神的心。Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12因为办这供给的事，不但补圣徒的缺乏，而且使许多人对神充满更多的感谢。For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
13他们从这供给的事上得了凭据，知道你们宣认基督，顺服他的福音，慷慨捐助给他们和众人，把荣耀归给神。Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14他们也因神极大的恩赐显在你们身上而切切想念你们，为你们祈祷。And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
15感谢神，因他有说不尽的恩赐！Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.