The Cheerful Giver

⁶ The point is this: ^(A)whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully^[a] will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, ^(B)not reluctantly or under compulsion, for ^(C)God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And ^(D)God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency^[b] in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written,

¹⁰ He who supplies ^(F)seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and ^(G)increase the harvest of your righteousness. ^11 (H)You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which ^(I)through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

⁷ Now if ^(A)the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory ^(B)that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, ⁸ will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? ⁹ For if there was glory in ^(C)the ministry of condemnation, ^(D)the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. ¹⁰ Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. ¹¹ For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

¹² Since we have such a hope, ^(E)we are very bold, ¹³ not like Moses, ^(F)who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. ¹⁴ But ^(G)their minds were ^(H)hardened. For to this day, ^(I)when they read ^(J)the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. ¹⁵ Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. ¹⁶ But when ^(K)one^[a] turns to the Lord, ^(L)the veil is removed. ¹⁷ Now the Lord^[b] is the Spirit, and where ^(M)the Spirit of the Lord is, there is ^(N)freedom. ¹⁸ And we all, with unveiled face, ^(O)beholding ^(P)the glory of the Lord,^{[c] (Q)}are being transformed into the same image ^(R)from one degree of glory to another.^[d] For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.