2 Kings 5:15-27 - Elisha's Greedy Servant Gehazi

15 Naaman returned to Elisha with all his men and said: Now I realize there is no god but the God of Israel. Please accept a gift from me.

16 Elisha the prophet answered: By the living God Jehovah whom I serve, I swear that I will not accept a gift. Naaman insisted that he accept it, but he would not.

17 So Naaman said: If you will not accept my gift, then let me have two mule-loads of earth to take home with me. From now on I will not offer sacrifices or burnt offerings to any god except Jehovah. 18 I hope Jehovah will forgive me when I accompany my king to the temple of Rimmon, the god of Syria, and worship him. Surely Jehovah will forgive me!

19 Elisha said: Go in peace. And Naaman left. He had gone only a short distance, 20 when Elisha's servant Gehazi said to himself: My master has let Naaman get away without paying a thing! He should have accepted what that Syrian offered him. By the living God Jehovah I will run after him and get something from him.

21 He ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw a man running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him, and asked: What is wrong?

22 Nothing is wrong, answered Gehazi. But my master sent me to tell you that just now two members of the group of prophets in the hill country of Ephraim arrived. He would like you to give them three thousand pieces of silver and two changes of fine clothes.

23 Please take six thousand pieces of silver, Naaman replied. He tied the silver in two bags and gave them and two changes of fine clothes to two of his servants, and sent them on ahead of Gehazi. 24 They reached the hill where Elisha lived. Gehazi took the two bags and carried them into the house. Then he sent Naaman's servants back.

25 He went into the house. Elisha asked him: Where have you been? Oh, nowhere, he answered.

26 Elisha said: Was I there in spirit when the man got out of his chariot to meet you? This is no time to accept money and clothes, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, or servants! 27 Naaman's leprosy will come upon you. You and your descendants will have it from generation to generation! When Gehazi left, he had the disease. His skin was as white as snow.