¹⁸ Yet her profit and her earnings will be set apart for the Lord;^(A) they will not be stored up or hoarded. Her profits will go to those who live before the Lord,^(B) for abundant food and fine clothes.^(C)

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.

¹² When you have finished setting aside a tenth^(A) of all your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe,^(B) you shall give it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, so that they may eat in your towns and be satisfied. ¹³ Then say to the Lord your God: “I have removed from my house the sacred portion and have given it to the Levite, the foreigner, the fatherless and the widow, according to all you commanded. I have not turned aside from your commands nor have I forgotten any of them.^{(C) 14} I have not eaten any of the sacred portion while I was in mourning, nor have I removed any of it while I was unclean,^(D) nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God; I have done everything you commanded me.

⁶ Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.^(A)

¹⁸ Instead, you are to eat^(A) them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God will choose^(B)—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice^(C) before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to. ¹⁹ Be careful not to neglect the Levites^(D) as long as you live in your land.^(E)

³⁶ “Make a plate^(A) of pure gold and engrave on it as on a seal: holy to the Lord.^(B)

²⁵ Now, however, I am on my way to Jerusalem^(A) in the service^(B) of the Lord’s people^(C) there. ²⁶ For Macedonia^(D) and Achaia^(E) were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.^{(F) 27} They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings.^(G)

³ After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria.^(A) We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴ We sought out the disciples^(B) there and stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit^(C) they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. ⁵ When it was time to leave, we left and continued on our way. All of them, including wives and children, accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.^(D)