It is not that I want your gifts. What I really want is what is best for you.

我并不求什么馈送，所求的就是你们的果子渐渐增多，归在你们的账上。

我并不求什么馈赠，只求你们的果子不断增多，归在你们的账上。

我并不求什么馈赠，只求你们的果子不断增多，归在你们的账上。

我不求得到你们的馈赠，只希望你们所做的会带给你们更大的赏赐。

我并不求礼物，只求你们的果子不断增加，归在你们的帐上。

我并不是求什么供应，而是求你们的果子增多，归在你们的账上。

我並不求甚麼餽送，所求的就是你們的果子漸漸增多，歸在你們的帳上。

我並不求甚麼饋贈，只求你們的果子不斷增多，歸在你們的賬上。

我並不求甚麼饋贈，只求你們的果子不斷增多，歸在你們的賬上。

我不求得到你們的饋贈，只希望你們所做的會帶給你們更大的賞賜。

我並不求禮物，只求你們的果子不斷增加，歸在你們的帳上。

這並不是我希求着贈品，我乃是切求着果子增多，歸在你們賬上。

我並不是求什麼供應，而是求你們的果子增多，歸在你們的帳上。

我非求贈、乃求結實繁多、以益於爾、

我不求贈於人、第求爾結實益繁、

我言此、非我求贈、惟欲爾多結果、使爾獲益、

顧予所為汲汲者、不在爾之資助、而在為爾廣收慷慨之妙果耳。

Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account.

Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek the profit which increases to your account.

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that increaseth to your account.

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account.

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account.

Not that I seek for the gift, but I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.

Our people must learn to commit themselves to doing what is good. Then they can provide for people when they are in great need. If they do that, their lives won’t turn out to be useless.

God is fair. He will not forget what you have done. He will remember the love you have shown him. You showed it when you helped his people. And you show it when you keep on helping them.

It is written,“ They have spread their gifts around to poor people. Their good works continue forever.”( Psalm 112:9)God supplies seed for the person who plants. He supplies bread for food. God will also supply and increase the amount of your seed. He will increase the results of your good works.You will be made rich in every way. Then you can always give freely. We will take your many gifts to the people who need them. And they will give thanks to God.Your gifts meet the needs of the Lord’s people. And that’s not all. Your gifts also cause many people to thank God.You have shown yourselves to be worthy by what you have given. So other people will praise God because you obey him. That proves that you really believe the good news about Christ. They will also praise God because you share freely with them and with everyone else.

As you know, we never praised you if we didn’t mean it. We didn’t put on a mask to cover up any sinful desire. God is our witness that this is true.

I’m not saying this because I need anything. I have learned to be content no matter what happens to me.

A church leader takes care of God’s family. That’s why he must be without blame. He must not look after only his own interests. He must not get angry easily. He must not get drunk. He must not push people around. He must not try to get money by cheating people.

When you bear a lot of fruit, it brings glory to my Father. It shows that you are my disciples.

You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit that will last. I also appointed you so that the Father will give you what you ask for. He will give you whatever you ask for in my name.

Then Jesus spoke to his host.“ Suppose you give a lunch or a dinner,” he said.“ Do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, or your relatives, or your rich neighbors. If you do, they may invite you to eat with them. So you will be paid back.But when you give a banquet, invite those who are poor. Also invite those who can’t see or walk.Then you will be blessed. Your guests can’t pay you back. But you will be paid back when those who are right with God rise from the dead.”

We have planted spiritual seed among you. Is it too much to ask that we receive from you some things we need?Others have the right to receive help from you. Don’t we have even more right to do so? But we didn’t use that right. No, we have put up with everything. We didn’t want to keep the good news of Christ from spreading.People who serve in the temple get their food from the temple. Don’t you know this? People who serve at the altar eat from what is offered on the altar. Don’t you know this?So those who preach the good news should also receive their living from their work. That is what the Lord has commanded.But I haven’t used any of those rights. And I’m not writing because I hope you will do things like that for me. I would rather die than allow anyone to take away my pride in my work.

“ Then the King will speak to those on his right. He will say,‘ My Father has blessed you. Come and take what is yours. It is the kingdom prepared for you since the world was created.I was hungry. And you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty. And you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger. And you invited me in.I needed clothes. And you gave them to me. I was sick. And you took care of me. I was in prison. And you came to visit me.’“ Then the people who have done what is right will answer him.‘ Lord,’ they will ask,‘ when did we see you hungry and feed you? When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink?When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in? When did we see you needing clothes and give them to you?When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’“ The King will reply,‘ What I’m about to tell you is true. Anything you did for one of the least important of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

I want to finish my task. I want to make sure that the poor in Jerusalem have received this offering. Then I will go to Spain. On my way I will visit you.

I haven’t longed for anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.You yourselves know that I have used my own hands to meet my needs. I have also met the needs of my companions.

“ Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.Suppose someone welcomes a prophet as a prophet. They will receive a prophet’s reward. And suppose someone welcomes a godly person as a godly person. They will receive a godly person’s reward.Suppose someone gives even a cup of cold water to a little one who follows me. What I’m about to tell you is true. That person will certainly be rewarded.”

Anyone who is kind to poor people lends to the Lord. God will reward them for what they have done.

So I thought I should try to get the brothers to visit you ahead of time. They will finish the plans for the large gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a gift freely given. It will not be given by force.

Be shepherds of God’s flock, the believers under your care. Watch over them, though not because you have to. Instead, do it because you want to. That’s what God wants you to do. Don’t do it because you want to get money in dishonest ways. Do it because you really want to serve.

“ You might as well shut the temple doors! Then you would not light useless fires on my altar. I am not pleased with you,” says the Lord.“ I will not accept any of the offerings you bring.

He must not get drunk. He must not push people around. He must be gentle. He must not be a person who likes to argue. He must not love money.

I will say it again. Don’t let anyone think I’m a fool. But if you do, put up with me just as you would put up with a fool. Then I can do a little bragging.

I’m suffering very much! I’m like someone who gathers summer fruit in a vineyard after the good fruit has already been picked. No grapes are left to eat. None of the early figs I long for remain.

Love for money causes all kinds of evil. Some people want to get rich. They have wandered away from the faith. They have wounded themselves with many sorrows.

These teachers are never satisfied. They want to get something out of you. So they make up stories to take advantage of you. They have been under a sentence of death for a long time. The God who will destroy them has not been sleeping.

You will be filled with the fruit of right living produced by Jesus Christ. All these things bring glory and praise to God.

How terrible it will be for them! They have followed the way of Cain. They have rushed into the same mistake Balaam made. They did it because they loved money. They are like Korah. He turned against his leaders. These people will certainly be destroyed, just as Korah was.

They have left God’s way. They have wandered off. They follow the way of Balaam, son of Beor. He loved to get paid for doing his evil work.