⁵ Therefore I thought it necessary to ^[a]exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not as a ^[b]grudging obligation.

¹⁷ For he not only accepted the exhortation, but being more diligent, he went to you of his own accord.

¹² For ^(A)if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

³ For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, ⁴ imploring us with much urgency ^[a]that we would receive the gift and ^(A)the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

⁹ Then the people rejoiced, for they had offered willingly, because with a loyal heart they had ^(A)offered willingly to the Lord; and King David also rejoiced greatly.