And that’s not all. I was appointed as governor of Judah in the 20th year that Artaxerxes was king of Persia. I remained in that position until his 32nd year. During those 12 years, I and my relatives didn’t eat the food that was provided for my table.

自从我奉派作犹大地的省长，就是从亚达薛西王二十年直到三十二年，共十二年之久，我与我弟兄都没有吃省长的俸禄。

自从我奉派作犹大地省长的那日，就是从亚达薛西王二十年直到三十二年，共十二年之久，我与我弟兄都没有吃省长的俸禄。

自从我奉派作犹大地省长的那日，就是从亚达薛西王二十年直到三十二年，共十二年之久，我与我弟兄都没有吃省长的俸禄。

从亚达薛西王二十年至三十二年，也就是我奉派为犹大省长的十二年间，我和我的弟兄都没有吃省长的俸禄。

自从我奉命在犹大地作他们省长的日子以来，就是从亚达薛西王二十年，直到三十二年，共十二年，我和我的兄弟都没有吃过省长的俸禄。

自從我奉派作猶大地的省長，就是從亞達薛西王二十年直到三十二年，共十二年之久，我與我弟兄都沒有吃省長的俸祿。

自從我奉派作猶大地省長的那日，就是從亞達薛西王二十年直到三十二年，共十二年之久，我與我弟兄都沒有吃省長的俸祿。

自從我奉派作猶大地省長的那日，就是從亞達薛西王二十年直到三十二年，共十二年之久，我與我弟兄都沒有吃省長的俸祿。

從亞達薛西王二十年至三十二年，也就是我奉派為猶大省長的十二年間，我和我的弟兄都沒有吃省長的俸祿。

自從我奉命在猶大地作他們省長的日子以來，就是從亞達薛西王二十年，直到三十二年，共十二年，我和我的兄弟都沒有吃過省長的俸祿。

自從我奉命作猶大地巡撫的日子以來、從亞達薛西王二十年到三十二年、共十二年、巡撫的俸祿、我和我同職弟兄都沒有喫過。

自我被立為猶大方伯、於亞達薛西王二十年、至三十二年、共十二年、我與同宗、未食方伯之祿、

自亞達泄西王二十年、至三十二年、共十二年、我為猶大方伯、不食祿、即吾宗人亦然。

自王命我為猶大地之方伯、從亞達薛西王二十年、至三十二年、共十二年、我與同族未食方伯之祿、

Moreover, from the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, until his thirty-second year— twelve years— neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor.

Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.

For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah— from the twentieth year to the thirty second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes— neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance.

Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah— from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, twelve years— I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor.

Furthermore, since the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen have eaten the governor’s food allowance.

Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the governor’s provisions.

Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah— from the twentieth year until his thirty-second year, 12 years— I and my associates never ate from the food allotted to the governor.

Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king,[ that is], twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.

From the day that I was appointed governor in the land of Judah, that is, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes– twelve years in all– neither I nor my relatives ate the food allotted to the governor.

Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even to the thirty- second year of Artaxerxes the king, that is, twelve years, I and my brothers have not eaten the bread of the governor.

But I wasn’t in Jerusalem while all of that was going on. I had returned to the Persian King Artaxerxes, the king of Babylon. I went to him in the 32nd year of his rule. Some time later I asked him to let me return to Jerusalem.

We didn’t eat anyone’s food without paying for it. In fact, it was just the opposite. We worked night and day. We worked very hard so that we wouldn’t cause any expense to any of you.We worked, even though we have the right to receive help from you. We did it in order to be a model for you to follow.

Wine was brought in for King Artaxerxes. It was the month of Nisan in the 20th year of his rule. I got the wine and gave it to him. I hadn’t been sad in front of him before. But now I was.

Don’t we have the right to eat and drink?Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife with us when we travel? The other apostles do. The Lord’s brothers do. Peter does.Or are Barnabas and I the only ones who have to do other work for a living? Are we the only ones who can’t just do the work of apostles all the time?Who serves as a soldier but doesn’t get paid? Who plants a vineyard but doesn’t eat any of its grapes? Who takes care of a flock but doesn’t drink any of the milk?Do I say this only on human authority? The Law says the same thing.Here is what is written in the Law of Moses.“ Do not stop an ox from eating while it helps separate the grain from the straw.”( Deuteronomy 25:4) Is it oxen that God is concerned about?Doesn’t he say that for us? Yes, it was written for us. Whoever plows and separates the grain hopes to share the harvest. And it is right for them to hope for this.We have planted spiritual seed among you. Is it too much to ask that we receive from you some things we need?Others have the right to receive help from you. Don’t we have even more right to do so? But we didn’t use that right. No, we have put up with everything. We didn’t want to keep the good news of Christ from spreading.People who serve in the temple get their food from the temple. Don’t you know this? People who serve at the altar eat from what is offered on the altar. Don’t you know this?So those who preach the good news should also receive their living from their work. That is what the Lord has commanded.But I haven’t used any of those rights. And I’m not writing because I hope you will do things like that for me. I would rather die than allow anyone to take away my pride in my work.

Then what reward do I get? Here is what it is. I am able to preach the good news free of charge. And I can do this without using all my rights as a person who preaches the good news.

That’s also why you pay taxes. The authorities serve God. Ruling takes up all their time.Give to everyone what you owe them. Do you owe taxes? Then pay them. Do you owe anything else to the government? Then pay it. Do you owe respect? Then give it. Do you owe honor? Then show it.

Here is something else we want you to know. Suppose this city is rebuilt. And suppose its walls are made like new again. Then no more taxes, gifts or fees will be collected. And sooner or later there will be less money for you.We owe a lot to you. We don’t want to see dishonor brought on you. So we’re sending this letter to tell you what is going on.