⁵ and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough^(A) for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”

² In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.^{(A) 3} For I testify that they gave as much as they were able,^(B) and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own,

⁶ The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe^(A) of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps.^{(B) 7} They began doing this in the third month and finished in the seventh month.^{(C) 8} When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and blessed^(D) his people Israel.

⁹ Hezekiah asked the priests and Levites about the heaps; ¹⁰ and Azariah the chief priest, from the family of Zadok,^(E) answered, “Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.”^(F)

¹⁴ When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made articles for the Lord’s temple: articles for the service and for the burnt offerings, and also dishes and other objects of gold and silver. As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually in the temple of the Lord.

¹⁷ Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.^{(A) 18} I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus^(B) the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant^(C) offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

²¹ For everyone looks out for their own interests,^(A) not those of Jesus Christ.

³ So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron.