1 Corinthians 9
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?
ⲁ̅ⲙⲏ ⲁⲛⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲣⲙ̅ϩⲉ ⲁⲛ. ⲙⲏ ⲁⲛⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ. ⲙⲏ ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲓ̅ⲥ̅ ⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ. ⲙⲏ ⲛ̅ⲧⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁϩⲱⲃ ϩⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
2 Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
ⲃ̅ⲉϣϫⲉⲁⲛⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲁⲛⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲁ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̅. ⲧⲉⲥⲫⲣⲁⲅⲓⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲱⲧⲛ̅ ⲡⲉ ϩⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ.
3 This is my defense to those who scrutinize me:
ⲅ̅ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲁⲁⲡⲟⲗⲟⲅⲓⲁ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲁⲛⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲓ̈.
4 Have we no right to food and to drink?
ⲇ̅ⲙⲏ ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲛⲧⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲱⲙ ϩⲓⲥⲱ.
5 Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
ⲉ̅ⲙⲏ ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲛⲧⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲥⲱⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ ⲟⲩⲁϩⲥ̅ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲛ ⲛ̅ⲑⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲕⲉⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲕⲏⲫⲁⲥ.
6 Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?
ⲋ̅ϫⲛ̅ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲛ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲁⲧ ⲙⲛ̅ⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲛⲧⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲙ̅ⲣ̅ϩⲱⲃ.
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?
ⲍ̅ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉ ⲉϣⲁϥⲣ̅ⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ̈ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲉϥⲟⲯⲱⲛⲓⲟⲛ ⲙ̅ⲙⲓⲛ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲛⲉϩ. ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉϣⲁϥⲧⲱϭⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲁ ⲛ̅ⲉⲗⲟⲟⲗⲉ ⲛϥ̅ⲧⲙ̅ⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ. ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉϣⲁϥⲙⲟⲟⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟϩⲉ ⲛϥ̅ⲧⲙ̅ⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉ.
8 Do I say this from a human perspective? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?
ⲏ̅ⲙⲏ ⲕⲁⲧⲁⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ϫⲱ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲓ̈. ⲏ̅ ⲙⲉⲣⲉⲡⲕⲉⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ̈.
9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.” Is it about oxen that God is concerned?
ⲑ̅ϥⲥⲏϩ ⲅⲁⲣ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲙⲱⲩ̈ⲥⲏⲥ ϫⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲕϣⲃⲧ̅ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲥⲉ ⲉϥϩⲓ. ⲙⲏ ⲡⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉ ϩⲁⲛⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ
10 Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.
ⲓ̅ϫⲛ̅ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲛ̅. ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩⲥⲁϩϥ̅ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲛ̅ ϫⲉ ϣ̅ϣⲉ ⲉⲡⲉⲧⲥⲕⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲥⲕⲁⲓ̈ ⲉϫⲛ̅ⲟⲩϩⲉⲗⲡⲓⲥ. ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓ ⲉϫⲛ̅ⲟⲩϩⲉⲗⲡⲓⲥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲙⲉⲧⲉⲭⲉ.
11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲉϣϫⲉⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲁⲛϫⲟ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲡⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁⲧⲓⲕⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲡⲉ. ⲉϣϫⲉⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲱϩⲥ̅ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲥⲁⲣⲕⲓⲕⲟⲛ.
12 If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ⲉϣϫⲉⲟⲩⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲙⲉⲧⲉⲭⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ. ⲛ̅ϩⲟⲩⲟ ϭⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛ̅ⲭⲣⲱ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲉⲓⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲛϥⲓ ϩⲁϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲉⲛⲛⲉⲛϯ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϫⲣⲟⲡ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅·
13 Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲧⲣ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲛⲉⲣⲡⲏⲩⲉ ⲉⲩⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲡⲣ̅ⲡⲉ. ⲛⲉⲧⲥⲣⲟϥⲧ̅ ⲉⲡⲉⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉϣⲁⲩⲡⲱϣ ⲉϫⲱⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ̅ⲡⲉⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ.
14 In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲧⲟϣⲥ̅ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧⲧⲁϣⲉⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲱⲛϩ̅ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ.
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲭⲣⲱ ⲛ̅ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲓ̈. ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓ̈ⲥⲉϩⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲉⲩⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲉⲓϩⲉ ⲛ̅ϩⲏⲧ. ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲉⲧⲣⲁⲙⲟⲩ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲉⲡⲁϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲉⲙⲛ̅ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲁϣⲧⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉϥϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ.
16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because I am obligated to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ⲉⲓ̈ϣⲁⲛⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲍⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ. ⲟⲩϩⲧⲟⲣ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ̈ ⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲓ̈ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ϣⲁⲛⲧⲙ̅ⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲍⲉ.
17 If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲉϣϫⲉⲉϩⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲓ̈ ⲟⲩⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲓ̈ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ ⲛⲟⲩⲃⲉⲕⲉ. ⲉϣϫⲉⲛ̅ϩⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲁⲩⲧⲁⲛϩⲟⲩⲧ ⲉⲩⲟⲓⲕⲟⲛⲟⲙⲓⲁ.
18 What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲁϣ ϭⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲃⲉⲕⲉ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲁⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲍⲉ ⲧⲁⲕⲁⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲉϣ ⲛ̅ϫⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲧⲙ̅ⲧⲣⲁⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁϩⲧⲟⲣ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ·
19 Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲉⲓ̈ⲟ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛ̅ⲣⲙ̅ϩⲉ ϩⲛ̅ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲓ̈ⲁⲁⲧ ⲛ̅ϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉϯϩⲏⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϩⲟⲩⲟ.
20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), to win those under the law.
ⲕ̅ⲁⲓ̈ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲓ̈ⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓ̈ ϩⲱⲥ ⲓ̈ⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓ̈ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉϯϩⲏⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲓ̈ⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓ̈. ⲁⲓ̈ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧϩⲁⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲓ̈ϩⲁⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲛϯϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϩⲁⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉϯϩⲏⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛⲉⲧϩⲁⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ.
21 To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲁⲓ̈ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲱⲥ ⲁⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲁⲛⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲁⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲙ̅ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ. ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲁⲛⲅ̅ⲟⲩⲉⲛⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲭ̅ⲥ̅ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉϯϩⲏⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ.
22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.
ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ⲁⲓ̈ϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ϭⲱⲃ ϩⲱⲥ ϭⲱⲃ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉϯϩⲏⲩ ⲛ̅ⲛ̅ϭⲱⲃ. ⲁⲓ̈ⲣ̅ⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲙⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲡⲁⲛⲧⲱⲥ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉⲧⲟⲩϫⲉϩⲟⲓ̈ⲛⲉ.
23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ⲉⲉⲓ̈ⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ⲛⲁⲓ̈ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲃⲉⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ⲛ̅ⲕⲟⲓⲛⲱⲛⲟⲥ·
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.
ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲧⲡⲏⲧ ϩⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲧⲁⲇⲓⲟⲛ. ⲥⲉⲡⲏⲧ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ. ⲟⲩⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉϣⲁϥϫⲓⲡⲉⲕⲗⲟⲙ. ⲡⲱⲧ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲓ̈ϩⲉ ϫⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲉⲧⲁϩⲟ.
25 Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.
ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲁⲅⲱⲛⲓⲍⲉ ϣⲁϥⲉⲅⲕⲣⲁⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲉϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲏ ⲙⲉⲛ ϫⲉ ⲉⲩⲉϫⲓ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲕⲗⲟⲙ ⲉϣⲁϥⲧⲁⲕⲟ. ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛ̅ⲟⲩⲁⲧⲧⲁⲕⲟ.
26 Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.
ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϭⲉ ⲉⲓ̈ⲡⲏⲧ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲓ̈ϩⲉ ϩⲱⲥ ϩⲛ̅ⲟⲩϩⲱⲡ ⲁⲛ. ⲉⲓ̈ⲡⲩⲕⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲛ̅ⲧⲉⲓ̈ϩⲉ ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲛⲉⲉⲓ̈ϩⲓⲟⲩⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲡⲁⲏⲣ.
27 No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ϯⲱϥⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲁⲥⲱⲙⲁ ϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲛ̅ϩⲙ̅ϩⲁⲗ. ⲙⲏⲡⲱⲥ ⲉⲓ̈ⲧⲁϣⲉⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛ̅ϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲧⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲛ̅ϫⲟⲟⲩⲧ·
