So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. | You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” |
But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. | But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! |
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A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men. | Giving a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! |
The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself. | The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. |
For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have. | Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. |
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you. | Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. |
Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase. | Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. |
While you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. | Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. |
Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness. | For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. |
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. | And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. |
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so. | Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. |
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.” | “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” |
Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. | When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. |
Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. | Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. |
Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. | Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. |
He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare. | Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give! |
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” | Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” |
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. | If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing. |
The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives. | The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers. |
But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. | But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. |
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. | Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! |
Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” | And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” |
Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy. | Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. |
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. | Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. |
He answered and said to them, “He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise.” | John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” |