³ and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.^(A)

³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.^(A)

³⁵ In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

¹² We work hard with our own hands.^(A) When we are cursed, we bless;^(B) when we are persecuted,^(C) we endure it;

⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example.^(A) We were not idle when we were with you,

⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked^(A) night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.