¹⁴ and apart from thy mind I willed to do nothing, that as of necessity thy good deed may not be, but of willingness,

⁷ each one, according as he doth purpose in heart, not out of sorrow or out of necessity, for a cheerful giver doth God love,

² feed the flock of God that `is' among you, overseeing not constrainedly, but willingly, neither for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind,

³ neither as exercising lordship over the heritages, but patterns becoming of the flock,

⁸ Wherefore, having in Christ much boldness to command thee that which is fit --

⁹ because of the love I rather entreat, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ;

⁵ Necessary, therefore, I thought `it' to exhort the brethren, that they may go before to you, and may make up before your formerly announced blessing, that this be ready, as a blessing, and not as covetousness.

¹² for if the willing mind is present, according to that which any one may have it is well-accepted, not according to that which he hath not;

²⁴ not that we are lords over your faith, but we are workers together with your joy, for by the faith ye stand.

¹⁷ for if willing I do this, I have a reward; and if unwillingly -- with a stewardship I have been entrusted!

⁷ who doth serve as a soldier at his own charges at any time? who doth plant a vineyard, and of its fruit doth not eat? or who doth feed a flock, and of the milk of the flock doth not eat?

³ Thy people `are' free-will gifts in the day of Thy strength, in the honours of holiness, From the womb, from the morning, Thou hast the dew of thy youth.

¹⁷ `And I have known, my God, that Thou art trying the heart, and uprightness dost desire; I, in the uprightness of my heart, have willingly offered all these: and now, Thy people who are found here I have seen with joy to offer willingly to Thee.