⁹ You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.^(A)

⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not irresponsible when we were with you,^{(A) 8} and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day so that we might not burden any of you.^{(B) 9} This was not because we do not have that right but in order to give you an example to imitate.^(C)

⁹ And when I was with you and was in need, I did not burden anyone, for my needs were supplied by the brothers who came from Macedonia. So I refrained and will continue to refrain from burdening you in any way.^(A)

³ and, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them, and they worked together—by trade they were tentmakers.^(A)

¹⁰ For to this end we toil and suffer reproach,^[a] because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.^(A)

¹³ How have you been worse off than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!^(A)

¹⁴ Here I am, ready to come to you this third time, and I will not be a burden because I do not want what is yours but you, for children ought not to save up for their parents but parents for their children.^(B)

Thanksgiving and Encouragement

³ I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.^(A)

⁵ The real widow, left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day,^(A)

¹¹ that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I was entrusted.

¹⁰ Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith.^(A)