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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I was not in Jerusalem at that time, for I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in the thirty second year of his reign, though I later asked his permission to return.

We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence.

Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals?Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does?Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk?Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing?For the law of Moses says,“ You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this?Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.

What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.

Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do.Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority.

And the king should know that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, it will be much to your disadvantage, for the Jews will then refuse to pay their tribute, customs, and tolls to you.“ Since we are your loyal subjects and do not want to see the king dishonored in this way, we have sent the king this information.