2 COR 9:4 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Otherwise, if Macedonians might come with me and might find you unprepared, we would be ashamed—not to mention you—by this situation.[fn]

UST On the other hand, think about what would happen were some believers from Macedonia province to visit you with me and discover that you had not finished preparing to give. How you had acted would shame even us, and it would most definitely shame you.

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.

MSB 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 [in our] boasting.[fn]

BLB Otherwise, if Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we--not that we might say you--would be put to shame in this confidence.

AICNT [lest][fn] perhaps, if Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you) would be put to shame in this confidence [[of boasting]].[fn]

9:4, lest: Absent from some manuscripts. BYZ TR

9:4, of boasting: Later manuscripts add. BYZ TR

OEB Otherwise, if any Macedonians were to come with me, and find you unprepared, we – to say nothing of you – should feel ashamed of our present confidence.

WEBBE 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.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET For if any of the Macedonians should come with me and find that you are not ready to give, we would be humiliated (not to mention you) by this confidence we had in you.

LSV lest if Macedonians may come with me, and find you unprepared, we may be put to shame (that we do not say—you) in this same confidence of boasting.

FBV This is just in case some Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared. We, not to mention you, would be really embarrassed if this project failed!

TCNT Otherwise, if any of the Macedonians were to come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you) would be ashamed [fn]of this confident boasting.

9:4 of this confident boasting 84.8% ¦ for being so confident CT 3.6%

T4T When I come, if any of the believers from Macedonia come with me, I do not want them to find that your gift is [MTY, EUP] not ready. If that were to happen, I would be very ashamed, and you yourselves would be even more ashamed.

LEB lest somehow if Macedonians should come with me and find you unprepared, we—_⌊not to speak of you_⌋[fn]—would be humiliated in connection with this project.

9:4 Literally “so that we do not speak about you”; some manuscripts have “so that I do not speak about you”

BBE For fear that, if any from Macedonia come with me, and you are not ready, we (not to say, you) might be put to shame in this thing.

Moff in case any Macedonians accompany me and find you are not ready — which would make me (not to speak of yourselves) ashamed of having been so sure.

Wymth for fear that, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we—not to say you yourselves—should be put to the blush in respect to this confidence.

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.

DRA Lest, when the Macedonians shall come with me, and find you unprepared, we (not to say ye) should be ashamed in this matter.

YLT lest if Macedonians may come with me, and find you unprepared, we — we may be put to shame (that we say not — ye) in this same confidence of boasting.

Drby 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.

RV 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.

SLT Lest if in some way the Macedonians come with me, and find you unprepared, we should be ashamed, (that we should not say, ye) in this principle of boasting.

Wbstr 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.

KJB-1769 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.
(Lest happily 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. )

KJB-1611 Lest happily if they of Macedonia come with mee, & find you vnprepared, wee (that wee say not, you) should bee ashamed in this same confident boasting.
(Lest happily if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, you) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting.)

Bshps Lest yf they of Macedonia come with me, and fynde you vnprepared, we (I wyll not say you) shoulde be ashamed in this matter of boastyng.
(Lest if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (I will not say you) should be ashamed in this matter of boasting.)

Gnva Lest if they of Macedonia come with me, and finde you vnprepared, we (that wee may not say, you) should be ashamed in this my constant boasting.
(Lest if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we may not say, you) should be ashamed in this my constant boasting. )

Cvdl lest whan they of Macedonia come with me, and fynde you vnprepared, we (I wyl not saye ye) shulde be ashamed in this presumpcion of boostinge.
(lest when they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (I will not say ye) should be ashamed in this presumption of boasting.)

TNT lest paraveture yf they of Macedonia come with me and fynde you vnprepared the boost that I made in this matter shuld be a shame to vs: I saye not vnto you.
(lest paraveture if they of Macedonia come with me and find you unprepared the boost that I made in this matter should be a shame to us: I say not unto you. )

Wycl Lest whanne Macedonyes comen with me, and fynden you vnredi, we be schamed, that we seien you not, in this substaunce.
(Lest when Macedonyes came with me, and fynden you unredi, we be shamed, that we said you not, in this substance.)

Luth auf daß nicht, so die aus Mazedonien mit mir kämen und euch unbereitet fänden, wir (will nicht sagen ihr) zuschanden würden mit solchem Rühmen.
(on/in/to that not, so the out_of Mazedonien with to_me come and you unbereitet foundn, we/us (will not say you(pl)/their/her) to_shame would with such Rühmen.)

ClVg ne cum venerint Macedones mecum, et invenerint vos imparatos, erubescamus nos (ut non dicamus vos) in hac substantia.[fn]
(not when/with venerint Macedones with_me, and invenerint you(pl) imparatos, erubescamus us (as not/no I_will_sayus you(pl)) in/into/on this_way substance. )

9.4 Erubescamus. Si enim non fuerit hoc inventum, quod Apostolus testificatus est de his, et ipse erubescet et ipsi amplius confundentur.

9.4 Erubescamus. When/But_if because not/no has_been this discovery/invention, that Apostolus testificatus it_is from/about his, and exactly_that/himself erubescet and themselves more they_will_be_confused.

UGNT μή πως ἐὰν ἔλθωσιν σὺν ἐμοὶ Μακεδόνες, καὶ εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους, καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς, ἵνα μὴ λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς, ἐν τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ.
(maʸ pōs ean elthōsin sun emoi Makedones, kai heurōsin humas aparaskeuastous, kataisⱪunthōmen haʸmeis, hina maʸ legōmen humeis, en taʸ hupostasei tautaʸ.)

SBL-GNT μή πως ἐὰν ἔλθωσιν σὺν ἐμοὶ Μακεδόνες καὶ εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς, ἵνα μὴ ⸀λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς, ἐν τῇ ὑποστάσει ⸀ταύτῃ.
(maʸ pōs ean elthōsin sun emoi Makedones kai heurōsin humas aparaskeuastous kataisⱪunthōmen haʸmeis, hina maʸ ⸀legōmen humeis, en taʸ hupostasei ⸀tautaʸ.)

RP-GNT μήπως, ἐὰν ἔλθωσιν σὺν ἐμοὶ Μακεδόνες καὶ εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους, καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς - ἵνα μὴ λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς - ἐν τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ τῆς καυχήσεως.
(maʸpōs, ean elthōsin sun emoi Makedones kai heurōsin humas aparaskeuastous, kataisⱪunthōmen haʸmeis - hina maʸ legōmen humeis - en taʸ hupostasei tautaʸ taʸs kauⱪaʸseōs.)

TC-GNT μήπως, ἐὰν ἔλθωσι σὺν ἐμοὶ Μακεδόνες καὶ εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους, καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς—ἵνα μὴ [fn]λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς—ἐν τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ [fn]τῆς καυχήσεως.
(maʸpōs, ean elthōsi sun emoi Makedones kai heurōsin humas aparaskeuastous, kataisⱪunthōmen haʸmeis—hina maʸ legōmen humeis—en taʸ hupostasei tautaʸ taʸs kauⱪaʸseōs. )

9:4 λεγωμεν ¦ λεγω NA

9:4 της καυχησεως 84.8% ¦ — CT 3.6%

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 8:16–9:5: Titus and others went to Corinth

In this section, Paul told the believers in Corinth that Titus had gone to them (8:16–17) to help them prepare the gift for Paul to take (9:5). An unnamed believer went along with Titus, and Paul described his standing in other churches (8:18–19b). Then Paul described how they intended to be careful regarding this gift (8:19c–21). Paul referred to another unnamed believer who was going with Titus (8:22). He described the standing of Titus and the two believers going with him (8:23) and encouraged the believers in Corinth to treat them well (8:24).

Then Paul reminded the believers in Corinth of their own attitudes regarding this gift (9:1–2) and his goal (9:3–4).

Other examples for this section heading are:

The delegates recommended to the Corinthians (NJB)

Paul commended Titus and his companions

Titus and his companions came to help finish collecting the gift

9:4a

Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared,

Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and see that you^(plur) are not ready,
Some believers from Macedonia may come with me. If they see/discover that you have not prepared your gift,
If some Macedonian believers come with me to you, they might find that you have not prepared your gift.

Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared: These words indicate that the believers in Corinth might be unprepared with their gift when the Macedonians arrived. Then, the Macedonians would see that the believers in Corinth had not done as they had said they would. Other ways to translate this are:

Otherwise, if any Macedonians come with me, they might find out that you’re not ready after all (GW)

Some followers from Macedonia may come with me, and I want them to find that you have the money ready. If you don’t, (CEV)

any Macedonians: This phrase refers to believers from the Macedonian churches. It probably refers to people whom the churches chose to take the gift from the Macedonian churches to Jerusalem. The phrase does not refer to the two unnamed believers of 8:18–24. Other ways to translate this phrase are:

some Macedonian believers (NLT)

other delegates from the churches in Macedonia

find you unprepared: This clause indicates that the Macedonians might discover that the believers in Corinth were not prepared to give the gift. Another way to translate this is:

see that you are unprepared

9:4b

we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed of having been so confident.

we^(excl) would be humiliated for being so confident—to say nothing of you.
we would be ashamed by our thinking with no doubts that you would do as you said you would, but you would be ashamed even more.
If you are unprepared, that would shame us for being certain about you. It would shame you even more!

we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed: The Greek words are literally “we, in order that we should not say you, should be ashamed.” The Greek and the BSB emphasize that the believers in Corinth would indeed be ashamed as well. It is a polite way to urge the believers to finish collecting the gift so that neither Paul nor the believers will be ashamed. Other ways to translate this are:

how ashamed we would be—not to speak of your shame— (GNT)

we would be ashamed, but you would be even more ashamed

we will be ashamed… (And you will be ashamed, too!) (NCV)

Your translation should not indicate or imply a rebuke.

ashamed: Paul and the other evangelists were confident and boasted that the believers in Corinth would prepare their gift. But if the believers did not prepare it, both groups would be ashamed. Other ways to translate this word are:

humiliated (RSV)

be put to shame (NJB)

be embarrassed (NLT)

a disgrace it will be to us (REB)

of having been so confident: There is a textual issue in 9:4b. (1) Most early Greek manuscripts have the Greek phrase that the RSV translates as being so confident (BSB, RSV, NIV, GNT, NJB, GW, NET, JBP, REB, ESV). (2) A few early Greek manuscripts have the Greek phrase that the KJV translates as this same confident boasting (KJV only). It is recommended that you follow option (1). This phrase refers to Paul being sure that the believers in Corinth would finish collecting the money for the gift before he arrived in Corinth. For example:

by our confidence in you (NJB)

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

μή πως

not (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή πώς ἐάν ἔλθωσιν σύν ἐμοί Μακεδόνες καί εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς ἵνα μή λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς ἐν τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ)

Here, the word Otherwise introduces a possible situation in which the Corinthians would be unprepared, in contrast to what Paul said in the previous verse about them being ready. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a word or phrase that introduces a contrasting situation. Alternate translation: [However] or [But if that did not happen]

Note 2 topic: grammar-connect-condition-hypothetical

ἐὰν ἔλθωσιν σὺν ἐμοὶ Μακεδόνες, καὶ εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή πώς ἐάν ἔλθωσιν σύν ἐμοί Μακεδόνες καί εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς ἵνα μή λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς ἐν τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ)

Here Paul introduces something that could happen when Paul visits them. There are two things that Paul thinks are possibilities. First, Macedonians might travel with him. Second, the Corinthians might be unprepared. Paul wishes to say that if both these things were to happen, both he and the Corinthians would be ashamed. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that introduces something that might happen. Alternate translation: [suppose that Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared; in that case]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἀπαρασκευάστους

unprepared

Here Paul implies that they would be unprepared to give money to the collection. If it would be helpful in your language, you could make the idea more explicit. Alternate: “unprepared to contribute” or “unprepared to give generously”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς, ἵνα μὴ λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς, ἐν τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ

˓may_be˒_disgraced we in_order_that (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Μή πώς ἐάν ἔλθωσιν σύν ἐμοί Μακεδόνες καί εὕρωσιν ὑμᾶς ἀπαρασκευάστους καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς ἵνα μή λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς ἐν τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ)

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [this situation would shame us—not to mention you.]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / idiom

καταισχυνθῶμεν ἡμεῖς, ἵνα μὴ λέγωμεν ὑμεῖς, ἐν

Here, the phrase not to mention you indicates that Paul thinks that the Corinthians would obviously be ashamed, even more than Paul and his fellow workers. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a form that expresses that idea. Alternate translation: [we, and most surely you, would be ashamed by] or [we—to say nothing of you—would be ashamed by]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ

¬the confidence this

Here, the phrase this situation could refer to: (1) what would actually happen if the Corinthians were unprepared, in contrast to what Paul had told the Macedonians would happen. Alternate translation: [what would actually be true] or [what had happened] (2) how sure Paul had been that the Corinthians would be ready. Alternate translation: [how confident we were] or [this confidence] (3) the project that Paul was undertaking, which was the collection of money for the Jerusalem believers. Alternate translation: [our project] or [what we were planning to do]

Note 7 topic: translate-textvariants

τῇ ὑποστάσει ταύτῃ

¬the confidence this

Here most ancient manuscripts read this situation. The ULT follows that reading. Some ancient manuscripts read “this situation of boasting.” Most likely, the phrase “of boasting” was added by accident because it appears in the similar phrase in [11:17](../11/17.md). So, it is recommended that you use the reading of the ULT.

Parallel 2 COR 9:4

Section 8:16–9:5: Titus and others went to Corinth

9:4a

9:4b

Parallel 2 COR 9:4