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.
(What I am now going to say is not inspired by the Lord: I am in the role of a 'fool,' now, on this business of boasting.
I know how willing you are, I am proud of it, I have boasted of you to the Macedonians: "Achaia," I tell them, "was all ready last year." And your zeal has been a stimulus to the majority of them.
So let them have proof of how you can love, and of my reasons for being proud of you; it will be a proof read by the churches.
For Macedonia and Achaia have decided to make a contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem.
On the first day of the week let each of you put aside a sum from his weekly gains, so that the money may not have to be collected when I come.
This is in my own handwriting: 'I Paul promise to refund it' — not to mention that you owe me, over and above, your very soul.