²¹ The king of Sodom^(A) said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods^(B) for yourself.”

²² But Abram said to the king of Sodom,^(C) “With raised hand^(D) I have sworn an oath to the Lord, God Most High,^(E) Creator of heaven and earth,^{(F) 23} that I will accept nothing belonging to you,^(G) not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’

²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth^(A) of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.^(B) You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

³ If I give all I possess to the poor^(A) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[a](B) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,^(A) not reluctantly or under compulsion,^(B) for God loves a cheerful giver.^(C)

³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,^(A) where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.^(B)

³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(A)

¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,^(A) and to be generous and willing to share.^{(B) 19} In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves^(C) as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of^(D) the life that is truly life.