³ Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed.^(A) Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey^(B) have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe^(C) to make me shut my eyes? If I have done^(D) any of these things, I will make it right.”^(E)

¹² If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.^(A) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder^(B) the gospel of Christ.

¹⁷ Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.^(A) On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity,^(B) as those sent from God.^(C)

Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance

² Make room for us in your hearts.^(A) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one.

⁹ And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed.^(A) I have kept myself from being a burden to you^(B) in any way, and will continue to do so.

¹⁴ Now I am ready to visit you for the third time,^(A) and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents,^(B) but parents for their children.^{(C) 15} So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well.^(D) If I love you more,^(E) will you love me less? ¹⁶ Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you.^(F) Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! ¹⁷ Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you?

⁵ You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed^(A)—God is our witness.^(B)