1 Corinthians 9

1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Yahushua the Messiah our Master? are not ye my work in YHWH?

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

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

4 Have we not power 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 Yahushua, and Kepha?

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

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?

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

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 YHWH take care for oxen?

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.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal 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 glad tidings of the Messiah.

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 alter are partakers with the alter?

14 Even so hath YHWH ordained that they which preach the glad tidings should live of the glad tidings.

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.

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

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

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

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto 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;

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

23 And this I do for the glad tidings's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

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

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.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth 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.