¹⁷ Did I take advantage of you ^(A)through any of those whom I sent to you?

^18 (A)I urged Titus to go, and sent ^(B)the brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not act in the same spirit? Did we not take the same steps?

⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the ^(A)gift^[a] you have promised, so that it may be ready ^(B)as a willing gift, ^(C)not as an exaction.^[b]

^10 (A)When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for ^(B)he is doing ^(C)the work of the Lord, as I am.

¹⁷ That is why ^(A)I sent^[a] you Timothy, ^(B)my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,^{[b] (C)}as I teach them everywhere in every church.

^20 (A)Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. ^(B)As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” ²¹ So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, ^(C)“Is all well?” ²² And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from ^(D)the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and ^(E)two changes of clothing.’” ²³ And Naaman said, ^(F)“Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. ²⁴ And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. ²⁵ He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” ²⁶ But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? ²⁷ Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence ^(G)a leper, like snow.

¹⁶ But he said, ^(A)“As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, ^(B)I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.