As it is written: Good News Translation and Revised English Bible make explicit that this quotation is written in the “scripture.” The citation comes from Exo 16.18, concerning the gathering of the manna in the wilderness. For Paul this verse illustrated the point concerning equality, though in Exodus the equality was not due to voluntary sharing of resources. In languages that require an object for the verb “to gather,” the word “manna” should be supplied. Barclay says “As scripture said about the manna.”

He who gathered: since many people were involved in gathering manna, some languages may require that plurals be used in both cases where this expression is found: “the people who gathered much … and the people who gathered little” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

Had nothing over … no lack: various English renderings may suggest other ways of saying this in the receptor language: “had nothing extra … no shortage” (Anchor Bible); “had not too much … not too little” (Translator’s New Testament); “had nothing left … had all they needed” (Contemporary English Version).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .