²³ that ^(A)I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich’—

¹⁶ But he said, ^(A)“As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, ^(B)I will receive nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.

¹⁵ And the Jews who were in ^[a]Shushan ^(A)gathered together again on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and killed three hundred men at Shushan; ^(B)but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

¹⁶ The remainder of the Jews in the king’s provinces ^(C)gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; ^(D)but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

⁵ Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ^(A)“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Love for the Church

^14 (A)Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for ^(B)I do not seek yours, but you. ^(C)For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.