For I testifythat accordingto their ability,and beyondtheir ability,[they gave] of their own accord,
Then the peoplerejoicedbecausethey had offeredso willingly,for they madetheir offeringto the LORDwith a wholeheart,and KingDavidalsorejoicedgreatly.
Your peoplewill volunteerfreelyin the dayof Your power;In holyarray,from the wombof the dawn,Your youthare to You [as] the dew.
The Israelites,allthe menand women,whoseheartmovedthem to bring[material] for allthe work,whichthe LORDhad commandedthroughMosesto be done,broughta freewillofferingto the LORD.
Takefrom among you a contributionto the LORD;whoeveris of a willingheart,let him bringit as the LORD'Scontribution:gold,silver,and bronze,
"She has donewhatshe could;she has anointedMy bodybeforehandfor the burial.
And in the proportionthat anyof the discipleshad means,eachof them determinedto send[a contribution] for the reliefof the brethrenlivingin Judea.
For I testifyabout them that they havea zealfor God,but not in accordancewith knowledge.
On the firstday of everyweekeach oneof you is to putasideand save,as he may prosper,sothat nocollectionsbe madewhenI come.
For ifI dothisvoluntarily,I havea reward;but ifagainst my will,I have a stewardshipentrustedto me.
Wherethenis that sense of blessingyou had? For I bear you witnessthat, ifpossible,you would have pluckedout your eyesand giventhem to me.
for it is Godwho is at workin you, bothto willand to workfor [His] good pleasure.
For I testifyfor him that he hasa deepconcernfor you and for thosewho are in Laodiceaand Hierapolis.
Havingsofond an affectionfor you, we were well-pleasedto impartto you not onlythe gospelof Godbut alsoour ownlives,becauseyou had becomevery dearto us.
but withoutyour consentI did not wantto doanything,sothat your goodnesswould not be, in effect,by compulsionbut of your own free will.
Whoeverspeaks,[is to do so] as onewho is speakingthe utterancesof God;whoeverserves[is to do] [so] as onewho is servingby the strengthwhichGodsupplies;sothat in all thingsGodmay be glorifiedthroughJesusChrist,to whombelongsthe gloryand dominionforeverand ever.Amen.
shepherdthe flockof Godamongyou, exercising oversightnot under compulsion,but voluntarily,accordingto [the will of] God;and not for sordid gain,but with eagerness;