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

Look at me. Witness against me before Jehovah and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.

And he said to them, Jehovah is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

And when they had come to him, he said to them: You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I lived among you all the time,

Therefore I testify to you this day that I am blameless from the blood of everyone.

I have coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.

Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have served for my necessities, and for those who were with me.

But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the Word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience before God.

Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; and we are well known to God, and I also hope are well known in your consciences.

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

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

And Moses was very angry, and said to Jehovah, Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I done evil to any of them.

When the ear heard, it blessed me, and when the eye saw, it bore witness to me;

The blessing of the dying man came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.

I broke the fangs of the perverse, and flung out the prey from his teeth.

I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I look intently upon a virgin?

Is it not destruction for the wicked, and calamity for the workers of iniquity?

If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot has hastened to deceit,

If my step has turned aside from the way, or my heart walked after my eyes, or if any blemish has clung to my hands,

If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor's door,

For that would be wickedness; yea, it would be perversity deserving of judgment.

If I despised the cause of my male or female servant when they have a dispute with me,

Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb?

or eaten my morsel by myself, and the fatherless has not eaten of it

if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or any poor man without covering;

if I have waved my hand against the fatherless, when I was looking after my help in the gate;

For calamity from the Mighty God is a terror to me, and because of His majesty I could not do such things.

if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had acquired much;

so that my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand;

If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him who hated me, or been excited when evil found him

if the men of my tent have not said, who is there that is not satisfied with his flesh?

if I have covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,

Oh, that I had one to hear me! Behold, my desire is that the Almighty would answer me, that the man complaining had written an indictment!

I would declare to Him the number of my steps; like a prince I would approach Him.

if I have eaten its produce without money, or caused its owners to expire their souls;

O Jehovah my God, if I have done this: if there is iniquity in my hands;

let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it; yea, let him trample down my life upon the earth and lay my honor in the dust. Selah.

Jehovah rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands He has given back to me.

For all His judgments were before me, and I did not put away His Statutes from me.

Therefore Jehovah has given back to me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His eyes.

Should evil be repaid for good? For they have dug a pit for my life. Remember that I stood before You to speak good for them, to turn away Your wrath from them.

This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience that is blameless toward God and men.

For our rejoicing is this: the testimony of our conscience, that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

Giving no cause of stumbling in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.

in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings,

in the Word of Truth, in the power of God, through the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

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

Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have defrauded no one.

For you yourselves know how you need to imitate our example, for we were not disorderly among you;

Let no one despise your youth, but become an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,

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

sound speech that cannot be condemned, that he who is in opposition may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

not exercising dominion over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;