1 Corinthians 9

1 AM I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord?

2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

My defence to those who examine me is this:

4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?

Have we no right to eat and to drink?

5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?

7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?

8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn’t the law also say the same thing?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares,

10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who ploughs ought to plough in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?

12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.

13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?

14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News.

15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

But I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about, for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me if I don’t preach the Good News.

17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.

18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

What then is my reward? That when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;

21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ, ) that I might gain them that are without law.

to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law towards God, but under law towards Christ), that I might win those who are without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.

24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, so that you may win.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air,

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.