1 Corinthians 9

1 Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus 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 to others I am not an apostle, yet at least 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 My defence to them that examine me is this.

My defense to those who examine me is this:

4 Have we no right to eat and to drink?

Have we no right to eat and to drink?

5 Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and 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 we not a right to forbear working?

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

7 What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not 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 Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?

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 ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth,

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 sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, [to thresh] in hope of partaking.

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

11 If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter 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 partake of [this] right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to 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 Know ye not that they which minister about sacred things eat [of] the things of the temple, [and] they which wait upon the altar have their portion 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 did the Lord ordain that they which proclaim 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: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case: for [it were] good for me rather 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 if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for 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 of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to 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 then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right 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 was free from all [men], I brought myself under bondage to 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 to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself 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, not being without law to God, but under 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 toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.

22 To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may 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 I do all things for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.

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? Even so run, that ye may attain.

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 in the games is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to receive 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, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:

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

27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

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.