3 [8:16]But thanks be to God, who put this care for you into the heart of Titus, [8:17]for he received the exhortation, and being extremely diligent went to you of his own accord. [8:18]And we sent with him the brother, whose praise in the gospel is in all the churches, [8:19]and not only so, but he has also been chosen by the churches as our travelling companion in this charity ministered by us for the glory of the same Lord and our promptitude, [8:20] guarding against this, that no one may blame us in this abundance administered by us; [8:21]for we provide things honorable not only before the Lord, but also before men. [8:22]And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have often proved in many services to be diligent, and who is now much more diligent from the great confidence in you. [8:23]If [any one inquires] respecting Titus, he is my companion and co-laborer for you; if our brothers, they are apostles of churches and the glory of Christ. [8:24]Show them therefore the proof of your love, and of our boasting of you before the churches. 4 [9:1]For concerning the service for the saints it is superfluous for me to write to you; [9:2]for I know your readiness, of which I boasted in your behalf to the Macedonians that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal has excited many. [9:3]But I sent the brothers, that our boasting of you may not be in vain in this respect, as I said you were prepared, [9:4]lest if the Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to say you, should be ashamed of this confidence. [9:5]I thought it necessary, therefore, to exhort the brothers to go to you before, and to make ready your free gift before announced, that it may be ready as a free gift and not as an exaction. 5 [9:6]And [consider] this, He that sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he that sows liberally shall reap also liberally. [9:7]Let each one contribute as he chooses in his heart, not with regret or from necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. [9:8]And God is able to make every favor abound to you, that having always every sufficiency in every thing you may abound in every good work; [9:9]as it is written, He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness continues forever. [9:10]And may he that supplies seed to the sower and bread for eating multiply your grain, and increase the products of your righteousness; [9:11]that you may be enriched in every thing for all liberality, which produces through us thanksgiving to God. [9:12]For the performance of this service not only supplies the need of the saints, but also abounds with the thanksgivings of many to God; [9:13][they] glorifying God on account of the proof of this ministry for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ and the liberality of the contribution to them and to all, [9:14]and by their prayer for you, greatly longing for you on account of the abounding grace of God upon you. [9:15]Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.