4 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.
4 For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we-not to say anything about you-would be ashamed of having been so confident.
4 Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated--to say nothing of you--for being so confident.
4 If some Macedonians and I happened to drop in on you and found you weren't prepared, we'd all be pretty red-faced - you and us - for acting so sure of ourselves.
4 lest if some Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we (not to mention you!) should be ashamed of this confident boasting.
4 We would be embarrassed-not to mention your own embarrassment-if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren't ready after all I had told them!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Corinthians 9:4
Commentary on 2 Corinthians 9:1-5
(Read 2 Corinthians 9:1-5)
When we would have others do good, we must act toward them prudently and tenderly, and give them time. Christians should consider what is for the credit of their profession, and endeavour to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. The duty of ministering to the saints is so plain, that there would seem no need to exhort Christians to it; yet self-love contends so powerfully against the love of Christ, that it is often necessary to stir up their minds by way of remembrance.