Not that I seekthe giftitself, but I seekfor the profitwhich increasesto your account.
One who is graciousto a poormanlendsto the LORD,And He will repayhim for his gooddeed.
Woeis me! For I amLike the fruitpickers,like the grapegatherers.Thereis not a clusterof grapes to eat,[Or] a first-ripefig[which] I crave.
"Ohthat there were one among you who would shutthe gates,that you might not uselesslykindle[fire on] My altar!I am not pleasedwith you," saysthe LORDof hosts,"norwill I acceptan offeringfrom you.
"You did not chooseMe but I choseyou, and appointedyou that you would goand bearfruit,and [that] your fruitwould remain,sothat whateveryou askof the Fatherin My nameHe may giveto you.
"My Fatheris glorifiedby this,that you bearmuchfruit,and [so] proveto be My disciples.
Therefore,when I have finishedthis,and have put my sealon thisfruitof theirs,I will goon by wayof you to Spain.
AgainI say,let noonethinkme foolish;but if[you do], receiveme evenas foolish,sothat I alsomay boasta little.
SoI thoughtit necessaryto urgethe brethrenthat they would go on aheadto you and arrange beforehandyour previously promisedbountifulgift,sothat the samewould be readyas a bountiful giftand not affectedby covetousness.
having been filledwith the fruitof righteousnesswhich [comes] throughJesusChrist,to the gloryand praiseof God.
Not that I speakfrom want,for I have learnedto be contentin whatevercircumstancesI am.
For we nevercamewith flatteringspeech,as you know,norwith a pretextfor greed--Godis witness--
not addicted to wineorpugnacious,but gentle,peaceable,free from the love of money.
For the love of moneyis a rootof allsorts of evil,and someby longingfor it have wandered awayfrom the faithand piercedthemselveswith manygriefs.
For the overseermustbe above reproachas God'ssteward,not self-willed,not quick-tempered,not addicted to wine,not pugnacious,not fond of sordid gain,
Our peoplemust alsolearnto engagein gooddeedsto meet pressingneeds,sothat they will not be unfruitful.
For Godis not unjustso as to forgetyour workand the lovewhichyou have showntowardHis name,in having ministeredand in still ministeringto the saints.
shepherdthe flockof Godamongyou, exercising oversightnot under compulsion,but voluntarily,accordingto [the will of] God;and not for sordid gain,but with eagerness;
forsakingthe rightway,they have gone astray,having followedthe wayof Balaam,the [son] of Beor,wholovedthe wagesof unrighteousness;
and in [their] greedthey will exploityou with false words;their judgmentfrom long agois not idle,and their destructionis not asleep.
Woeto them! For they have gonethe wayof Cain,and for paythey have rushed headlonginto the errorof Balaam,and perishedin the rebellionof Korah.
