2 Corinthians 9:4
2 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 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:
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 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 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting.
- ASV
- lest by any means, if there come with me any of Macedonia and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be put to shame in this confidence.
- DARBY
- lest haply, if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, *we*, that we say not *ye*, may be put to shame in this confidence.
- BLB
- lest perhaps if Macedonians should come with me and should find you⁺ unprepared, we would be put to shame—not that we might say you⁺—in this confidence.
- ÅB
- så vi, for ikke å si dere selv, ikke skal bli til skamme i denne tillit når det kommer makedoniere med meg og finner dere uferdige.
- OTB
- Ellers, hvis noen makedonere kommer med meg og finner dere uforberedt, ville vi—ikke å nevne dere—bli satt til skamme i denne tilliten.
- B1930
- så vi, for ikke å si I selv, ikke skal bli til skamme i denne tillit når det kommer makedoniere med mig og finner eder uferdige.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Romans 15:26
For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
Read in context2 Corinthians 8:1–5
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
Read in context2 Corinthians 11:17
That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.
Read in context2 Corinthians 8:24
Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.
Read in context2 Corinthians 9:2
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.
Read in context