For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, just as you know what kind [of men] we were among you for your sake.

Behold, [here am] I, answer against me before the Lord and before His anointed. Whose calf have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or who among you have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe, even as [much as a] sandal? Bear witness against me, and I will make restitution to you.

And Samuel said to the people, The Lord is witness among you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they said, [He is] witness.

And when they were present with him, he said to them: "You know from the first day which I arrived in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,

Therefore I testify to you this very day, that I am innocent of all blood.

I have desired the silver or gold or clothes of no one.

You yourselves know that these hands rendered service to my needs, and those who were with me.

but we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor falsifying the word of God, but by the disclosure of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God.

Knowing, therefore, the fear of the Lord, we persuade men; but we have been made known to God. And I also hope to have been made known in your consciences.

Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

And Moses was exceeding indignant, and said to the Lord, Take no heed to their sacrifice; I have not taken away the desire of anyone of them, neither have I hurt anyone of them.

For the ear heard, and blessed me; and the eye saw me, and turned aside.

Let the blessing of the perishing one come upon me; yea, the mouth of the widow has blessed me.

I was the eye of the blind, and the foot of the lame.

And I broke the fangs of the wicked; I plucked the spoil out of the midst of their teeth.

I made a covenant with my eyes, and I will not think upon a virgin.

Alas! Destruction to the unrighteous, and rejection to them that do iniquity!

But if I had gone with scorners, and if my foot too has hastened to deceit:

if my foot has turned aside out of the way, or if my heart has followed my eye, and if I too have touched gifts with my hands;

If my heart has gone forth after another man's wife, and if I laid wait at her doors;

For the rage of anger is not to be controlled, in the case of defiling another man's wife.

And if I also despised the judgment of my servant or my handmaid, when they pleaded with me;

Were not they formed too, as I also was formed in the womb? Yea, we were formed in the same womb.

And if I also ate my morsel alone, and did not impart [of it] to the orphan;

And if I too overlooked the naked as he was perishing, and did not clothe him;

if I lifted my hand against an orphan, trusting that my strength was far superior [to his]:

For the fear of the Lord constrained me, and I cannot bear up by reason of His burden.

and if I also rejoiced when my wealth was abundant, and if I laid my hand on innumerable [treasures]:

and if my heart was secretly deceived, and if I have laid my hand upon my mouth and kissed it:

And if I too was glad at the fall of my enemies, and my heart said, Aha!

And if my handmaids have often said, Oh that we might be satisfied with his flesh; (whereas I was very kind:

or if also having sinned unintentionally, I hid my sin;

(Oh that I had a hearer!) And if I had not feared the hand of the Lord; and as to the written charge which I had against anyone,

And if I did not read it and return it, having taken nothing from the debtor:

and if I ate its strength alone without price, and if I too grieved the heart of the owner of the soil, by taking from [him],

O Lord my God, if I have done this; (if there is unrighteousness in my hands)

Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; and let him trample my life on the ground, and lay my glory in the dust. Pause.

And the Lord shall recompense me according to my righteousness; even according to the purity of my hands shall He recompense me.

For all His judgments were before me, and His ordinances departed not from me.

And the Lord shall recompense me according to my righteousness, and according to the purity of my hands before His eyes.

Forasmuch as evil is rewarded for good; for they have spoken words against my soul, and they have hidden the punishment they [meant] for me. Remember that I stood before Your face, to speak good concerning them, to turn away Your wrath from them.

And in this I myself am engaging, having a conscience blameless toward God and men through everything.

For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we have conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and especially toward you.

We give no occasion for offense in anything, lest the ministry be blamed,

in stripes, in imprisonments, in disturbances, in labors, in sleepless nights, in fastings;

through the word of truth, through the power of God, through the weapons of righteousness on the right hand and on the left hand,

as being unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as being disciplined, and not being put to death;

Receive us [in your hearts]. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have defrauded no one.

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;

Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but [rather] become a pattern for the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

You however have carefully followed my doctrine, lifestyle, purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance,

in all respects showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, dignity, incorruptibility,

sound speech that cannot be condemned, in order that the [one] who is an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

nor as being masters over the flock [under you], but rather being examples to the flock.