I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.
Philemon 1:14 - English Standard Version 2016 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 but without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition But it has been my wish to do nothing about it without first consulting you and getting your consent, in order that your benevolence might not seem to be the result of compulsion or of pressure but might be voluntary [on your part]. American Standard Version (1901) but without thy mind I would do nothing; that thy goodness should not be as of necessity, but of free will. Common English Bible However, I didn’t want to do anything without your consent so that your act of kindness would occur willingly and not under pressure. Catholic Public Domain Version But I was willing to do nothing without your counsel, so as not to make use of your good deed as if out of necessity, but only willingly. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version But without thy counsel I would do nothing: that thy good deed might not be as it were of necessity, but voluntary. |
I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.
Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.
For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship.
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk?
Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith.
For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have.
So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.