But there had been governors before me. They had put a heavy load on the people. They had taken a pound of silver from each of them. They had also taken food and wine from them. Their officials had acted like high and mighty rulers over them. But because of my great respect for God, I didn’t act like that.

在我以前的省长加重百姓的担子，每日索要粮食和酒，并银子四十舍客勒，就是他们的仆人也辖制百姓；但我因敬畏神不这样行。

在我以前的省长加重百姓的负担，向百姓索取粮食和酒，以及四十舍客勒银子，甚至他们的仆人也辖制百姓，但我因敬畏上帝不这样做。

在我以前的省长加重百姓的负担，向百姓索取粮食和酒，以及四十舍客勒银子，甚至他们的仆人也辖制百姓，但我因敬畏神不这样做。

在我之前的省长使民众负担沉重，天天索取食物、酒及五百克银子。他们的仆人也欺压民众，但我因敬畏上帝而没有这样做。

在我们以先的前任省长，重压人民，每日都向他们索取粮食和酒，以及四百五十六克银子。连他们的仆人也辖制人民，但我因为敬畏神，就不这样行。

在我以前的省長加重百姓的擔子，每日索要糧食和酒，並銀子四十舍客勒，就是他們的僕人也轄制百姓；但我因敬畏神不這樣行。

在我以前的省長加重百姓的負擔，向百姓索取糧食和酒，以及四十舍客勒銀子，甚至他們的僕人也轄制百姓，但我因敬畏上帝不這樣做。

在我以前的省長加重百姓的負擔，向百姓索取糧食和酒，以及四十舍客勒銀子，甚至他們的僕人也轄制百姓，但我因敬畏神不這樣做。

在我之前的省長使民眾負擔沉重，天天索取食物、酒及五百克銀子。他們的僕人也欺壓民眾，但我因敬畏上帝而沒有這樣做。

在我們以先的前任省長，重壓人民，每日都向他們索取糧食和酒，以及四百五十六克銀子。連他們的僕人也轄制人民，但我因為敬畏神，就不這樣行。

但我以前的頭幾任巡撫都加重了人民的負擔，每日都向他們索取了糧食和酒、和四十舍客勒銀子；連他們的僮僕對人民也作威作福。但我呢，我因敬畏上帝、就不這樣行。

前方伯責民供億、日索糈糧與酒、銀四十舍客勒、僕從亦從而挾制之、我寅畏上帝不行是、

舊方伯橫征閭閻、日得餅與酒、金二十兩、僕從亦從而挾制之、我畏上帝、不敢若是。

在我以前之舊方伯、向民索供給、日索糧與酒、並銀四十舍客勒、日索糧與酒並銀四十舍客勒或作為糧為酒日索銀四十舍客勒僕從亦勒詐於民、亦勒詐於民或作亦挾制民我敬畏天主、不敢如是以行、

But the earlier governors— those preceding me— placed a heavy burden on the people and took forty shekels of silver from them in addition to food and wine. Their assistants also lorded it over the people. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.

The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way.

The governors who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them food and wine as well as a pound of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but because of the fear of God, I didn’t do this.

But the previous governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine besides forty shekels of silver; even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do so because of my fear of God.

But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God.

But the former governors that were before me were chargeable unto the people, and took of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

The governors who preceded me had heavily burdened the people, taking food and wine from them, as well as a pound of silver. Their subordinates also oppressed the people, but I didn’t do this, because of the fear of God.

But the former governors that[ had been] before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

But the former governors who preceded me had burdened the people and had taken food and wine from them, in addition to forty shekels of silver. Their associates were also domineering over the people. But I did not behave in this way, due to my fear of God.

But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, plus forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people; but I didn’t do so, because of the fear of God.

So I continued,“ What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you show respect for our God? Shouldn’t you live in a way that will keep our enemies from saying bad things about us?

The Lord takes delight in those who have respect for him. They put their hope in his faithful love.

Through love and truth sin is paid for. People avoid evil when they have respect for the Lord.

I was afraid God would destroy me. His glory terrifies me. So I’d never do things like that.

Everything has now been heard. And here’s the final thing I want to say. Have respect for God and obey his commandments. This is what he expects of all human beings.God will judge everything people do. That includes everything they try to hide. He’ll judge everything, whether it’s good or evil.

When I was with you and needed something, I didn’t cause you any expense. The believers who came from Macedonia gave me what I needed. I haven’t caused you any expense at all. And I won’t ever do it.

Does anyone among you have respect for the Lord? Does anyone obey the message of the Lord’ s servant? Let the person who walks in the dark trust in the Lord. Let the one who doesn’t have any light to guide them depend on their God.

If you greet only your own people, what more are you doing than others? Even people who are ungodly do that.

Even before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come over. He would speak to the person who was offering the sacrifice. He would say,“ Give the priest some meat to cook. He won’t accept boiled meat from you. He’ll only accept raw meat.”Sometimes the person would say to him,“ Let the fat be burned first. Then take what you want.” But the servant would answer,“ No. Hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it away from you by force.”That sin of Eli’s sons was very great in the Lord’ s sight. That’s because they were not treating his offering with respect.

How were you less important than the other churches? The only difference was that I didn’t cause you any expense. Forgive me for that wrong!

If rulers listen to lies, all their officials become evil.

Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who have respect for the Lord. They find great delight when they obey God’s commands.

He will take a tenth of your grain and a tenth of your grapes. He’ll give it to his officials and attendants.

He said,“ In a certain town there was a judge. He didn’t have any respect for God or care about what people thought.A widow lived in that town. She came to the judge again and again. She kept begging him,‘ Make things right for me. Someone is treating me badly.’“ For some time the judge refused. But finally he said to himself,‘ I don’t have any respect for God. I don’t care about what people think.