³ and because he was of the same trade, he abode with them, and they wrought, for by their trade they were tentmakers.

¹² and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

⁹ For ye remember, brethren, our labor and travail: working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

³⁴ Ye yourselves know that these hands ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

³⁵ In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

⁶ Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?

⁷ What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

⁸ Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?

⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth,

¹⁰ or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, `to thresh' in hope of partaking.

¹¹ If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?

¹² If others partake of `this' right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

⁷ Or did I commit a sin in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I preached to you the gospel of God for nought?

⁹ and when I was present with you and was in want, I was not a burden on any man; for the brethren, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my want; and in everything I kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and `so' will I keep `myself'.

¹³ For what is there wherein ye were made inferior to the rest of the churches, except `it be' that I myself was not a burden to you? forgive me this wrong.

⁸ neither did we eat bread for nought at any man's hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you:

⁹ not because we have not the right, but to make ourselves and ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us.