For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; {with: or, in}

Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?

I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight {thereof}, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; {which...: or, as much as in you is}

The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, {thyine: or, sweet}

For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

Ye {are} witnesses, and God {also}, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: {adultery: Gr. an adulteress}

Therefore will I give their wives unto others, {and} their fields to them that shall inherit {them}: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one {is} given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

He that goeth about {as} a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. {flattereth: or, enticeth}

Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

Who {is there} even among you that would shut the doors {for nought}? neither do ye kindle {fire} on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the LORD of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand.

He that speaketh flattery to {his} friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

Likewise {must} the deacons {be} grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. {corrupt: or, deal deceitfully with} {in Christ: or, of Christ}

He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; {given...: or, ready to quarrel, and offer wrong, as one in wine}

Yea, {they are} greedy dogs {which} can never have enough, and they {are} shepherds {that} cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. {greedy: Heb. strong of appetite} {can...: Heb. know not to be satisfied}

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. {dishonesty: Gr. shame}

For when they speak great swelling {words} of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, {through much} wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. {clean: or, for a little, or, a while, as some read}

Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: {with} flattering lips {and} with a double heart do they speak. {a double...: Heb. an heart and an heart}

But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in {yourselves}, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.

A lying tongue hateth {those that are} afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

For our exhortation {was} not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.

I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: {with} flattering lips {and} with a double heart do they speak. {a double...: Heb. an heart and an heart}

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

Behold, here I {am}: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received {any} bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. {bribe: Heb. ransom} {to blind...: or, that I should hide mine eyes at him}

Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants {were} gathered thither unto the work.

If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take {other} wives beside my daughters, no man {is} with us; see, God {is} witness betwixt me and thee.

For I know not to give flattering titles; {in so doing} my maker would soon take me away.

As free, and not using {your} liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. {using: Gr. having}

He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; {with: or, in}

Also now, behold, my witness {is} in heaven, and my record {is} on high. {on high: Heb. in the high places}

For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and Abraham's servant, and his men.

Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.

As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. {no man...: Gr. this boasting shall not be stopped in me}

For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour {you}, if a man take {of you}, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.

Ye {are} witnesses, and God {also}, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.

Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

He that speaketh flattery to {his} friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

For {there is} no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part {is} very wickedness; their throat {is} an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue. {faithfulness: or, stedfastness} {their mouth: Heb. his mouth, that is, the mouth of any of them} {very...: Heb. wickednesses}

For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.