But you choose ¹  from the people capable men, ²  God-fearing, ³  men of truth, ⁴  those who hate bribes, ⁵  and put them over the people ⁶  as rulers ⁷  of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.

Therefore I thought it necessary to urge these brothers to go to you in advance and to arrange ahead of time the generous contribution ¹  you had promised, so this may be ready as a generous gift ²  and not as something you feel forced to do. ³ 

Your conduct must be free from the love of money and you must be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you and I will never abandon you.” ¹ 

If my footsteps have strayed from the way, if my heart has gone after my eyes, ¹  or if anything ²  has defiled my hands,

If my heart has been enticed by a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbor’s door, ¹ 

These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.

But you should be eager for the greater gifts. And now I will show you a way that is beyond comparison. ¹ 

So then, brothers and sisters, ¹  be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues. ² 

For the love of money is the root ¹  of all evils. ²  Some people in reaching for it have strayed from the faith and stabbed themselves with many pains.

For people ¹  will be lovers of themselves, ²  lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

They come to you in crowds, ¹  and they sit in front of you as ²  my people. They hear your words, but do not obey ³  them. For they talk lustfully, ⁴  and their heart is set on ⁵  their own advantage. ⁶ 

Through these things ¹  he has bestowed on us his precious and most magnificent promises, so that by means of what was promised ²  you may become partakers of the divine nature, ³  after escaping ⁴  the worldly corruption that is produced by evil desire. ⁵