2 Corinthians 9, Additional Reading Isaiah 33

Sunday, February 02, 2025
 

God Gives Most

9 For it is superfluous for me to write to you about this ministry to the [a]saints; 2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the Macedonians, namely, that Achaia has been prepared since last year, and your zeal has stirred up most of them. 3 But I have sent the brethren, in order that our boasting about you may not be made empty in this case, so that, as I was saying, you may be prepared; 4 otherwise if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to speak of you—will be put to shame by this confidence. 5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised [b]bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a [c]bountiful gift and not [d]affected by covetousness.

6 Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows [e]bountifully will also reap [f]bountifully. 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; 9 as it is written,

“He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor,
His righteousness [g]endures forever.”

10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; 11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the [h]saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God. 13 Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your [i]contribution to them and to all, 14 while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:1 Or holy ones
  2. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit blessing
  3. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit blessing
  4. 2 Corinthians 9:5 Lit as covetousness
  5. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Lit with blessings
  6. 2 Corinthians 9:6 Lit with blessings
  7. 2 Corinthians 9:9 Lit abides
  8. 2 Corinthians 9:12 Or holy ones
  9. 2 Corinthians 9:13 Or sharing with them
 
 

The Judgment of God

33 Woe to you, O destroyer,
While you were not destroyed;
And he who is treacherous, while others did not deal treacherously with him.
As soon as you finish destroying, you will be destroyed;
As soon as you cease to deal treacherously, others will deal treacherously with you.
2 O Lord, be gracious to us; we have waited for You.
Be [a]their [b]strength every morning,
Our salvation also in the time of distress.
3 At the sound of the tumult peoples flee;
At the lifting up of Yourself nations disperse.
4 Your spoil is gathered as the caterpillar gathers;
As locusts rushing about men rush about on it.
5 The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high;
He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
6 And He will be the [c]stability of your times,
A wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge;
The fear of the Lord is his treasure.
7 Behold, their brave men cry in [d]the streets,
The [e]ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.
8 The highways are desolate, [f]the traveler has ceased,
He has broken the covenant, he has despised the cities,
He has no regard for man.
9 The land mourns and pines away,
Lebanon is shamed and withers;
Sharon is like a desert plain,
And Bashan and Carmel [g]lose their foliage.
10 “Now I will arise,” says the Lord,
“Now I will be exalted, now I will be lifted up.
11 “You have conceived [h]chaff, you will give birth to stubble;
[i]My breath will consume you like a fire.
12 “The peoples will be burned to lime,
Like cut thorns which are burned in the fire.

13 “You who are far away, hear what I have done;
And you who are near, [j]acknowledge My might.”
14 Sinners in Zion are terrified;
Trembling has seized the godless.
“Who among us can live with the consuming fire?
Who among us can live with [k]continual burning?”
15 He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity,
He who rejects [l]unjust gain
And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe;
He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed
And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil;
16 He will dwell on the heights,
His refuge will be the [m]impregnable rock;
His bread will be given him,
His water will be sure.

17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty;
They will behold a far-distant land.
18 Your heart will meditate on terror:
“Where is he who counts?
Where is he who weighs?
Where is he who counts the towers?”
19 You will no longer see a fierce people,
A people of [n]unintelligible speech [o]which no one comprehends,
Of a stammering tongue [p]which no one understands.
20 Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts;
Your eyes will see Jerusalem, an undisturbed habitation,
A tent which will not be folded;
Its stakes will never be pulled up,
Nor any of its cords be torn apart.
21 But there the majestic One, the Lord, will be for us
A place of rivers and wide canals
On which no boat with oars will go,
And on which no mighty ship will pass—
22 For the Lord is our judge,
The Lord is our lawgiver,
The Lord is our king;
He will save us—
23 Your tackle hangs slack;
It cannot hold the base of its mast firmly,
Nor spread out the sail.
Then the prey of an abundant spoil will be divided;
The lame will take the plunder.
24 And no resident will say, “I am sick”;
The people who dwell [q]there will be forgiven their iniquity.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 33:2 Some versions read our
  2. Isaiah 33:2 Lit arm
  3. Isaiah 33:6 Or faithfulness
  4. Isaiah 33:7 Lit the outside
  5. Isaiah 33:7 Lit messengers
  6. Isaiah 33:8 Lit he who passes along the way
  7. Isaiah 33:9 Lit shake off
  8. Isaiah 33:11 Lit dry grass
  9. Isaiah 33:11 So one ancient version; M.T. reads Your breath will
  10. Isaiah 33:13 Lit know
  11. Isaiah 33:14 Lit everlasting
  12. Isaiah 33:15 Lit gain of extortioners
  13. Isaiah 33:16 Lit stronghold of rock
  14. Isaiah 33:19 Lit deepness of lip
  15. Isaiah 33:19 Lit from hearing
  16. Isaiah 33:19 Lit there is no understanding
  17. Isaiah 33:24 Lit in it

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