1 Corinthians 9

1 I am certainly free [to do all the things that God allows me to do.] [RHQ] I am an apostle. [RHQ] [You] certainly [know that] I have seen Jesus our Lord. [RHQ] It is a result of my work that you [have believed in] the Lord [Jesus]. [RHQ]

Taani yeda de7iya asi gidikkinaa? Ta hawaare gidikkinaa? Taani nu Godaa Yesuus Kiristtoosa be7abiikkina? Hintte Godan ta daabura ayfe gidekketii?

2 And even though other people may think that I am not an apostle, you certainly should know that I am an apostle. [Remember that] your having become Christians [MET] [as a result of my telling you about] the Lord (confirms/shows that it is true) that I am an apostle.

Hintte Godaaba gidiya gisho ta haratas hawaare gidonna ixxikokka, hinttew hawaare gideyssas hintte markka.

3 In order to defend myself, this [is what I say] to those who criticize me [by claiming that I do not act like an apostle].

Tana hawaare gidenna geyssatas ta immiya zaaroy hayssa.

4 As for Barnabas and me, we certainly have the right [as apostles] to receive [from you and other congregations] food and drink [for our work]. [RHQ]

Nu hinttefe maanawunne uyanaw tuma nuus maati baawe?

5 [We have the] same right [that] the other apostles and the Lord Jesus’ [younger] brothers and [especially] Peter have. They all take along a wife who is a believer [when they travel various places in order to tell people about Christ. And they have a right that the people whom they work among will support their wives, too]. So Barnabas and I certainly have those same rights. [RHQ]

Hankko hawaaretada, Godaa ishatadanne Phexiroosada, ammaniyaa nu machcheta ekki hamuttanaw nuus maati baawe?

6 It would be ridiculous to think that Barnabas and I are the only apostles who must work to earn money to pay our expenses [while we are doing God’s work! [RHQ]]

Woykko oothidi maanaw bessey taaranne Barnnabaasa xalaalee?

7 Soldiers certainly do not pay their own wages. [RHQ] Those who plant a vineyard would certainly eat some of the grapes [when they become ripe]. [RHQ] Those who care for sheep would certainly drink the milk from those sheep. [RHQ] [Similarly, those who tell others about Christ certainly have a right to receive] ([financial help/food]) [from the people to whom they preach].

Ba miishen wotaaddaretathi oothey oonee? Woykko woyne tokkidi, iya ayfe moonnay oonee? Woykko wude heemmishe, he wudiyappe maathi uyonnay oonee?

8 I am saying that, not only because people think that it is right. [RHQ] [No], I am [RHQ] saying it because it is what [God said] in the laws [that he gave to Moses].

Taani hessa asa qofatho gaynayye? Higgey qassi hessa geenne?

9 Moses wrote in one of those laws, “While an ox is threshing [grain], you must not tie its mouth shut [so that it cannot eat the grain].” (God was not only concerned about oxen [when he gave that law]./Was God [only] concerned about oxen [when he gave that law]?) [RHQ]

Muse Higgiyan, “Wudumman kathaa yedhdhiya booraa doona qachchofa” geetettidi xaafettis. Yaatin Xoossay hessa booras qoppidi gidee?

10 [No], he was [RHQ] concerned about us, also! Yes, [God caused Moses to] write those words [because he is concerned] about us! Those who plow the ground confidently expect [to eat some of] the crop [that grows]. Those who thresh grain confidently expect [to eat some of the grain that they thresh. Similarly, we who proclaim the message about Christ have the right to confidently expect to receive financial help for our work].

Xoossay hessa giday nuus qoppidi gidennee? Ee nu gishossa. Goyeysika, kathaa geeshsheysika bana gakkeyssa ekkana gidi ufayssan oothanaw bessees geetettidi tuma nu gisho xaafettis.

11 And because we have proclaimed God’s message to you, we certainly have the right to receive from you the things that we need for our bodies [MET]! [MET, RHQ]

Nuuni hintte giddon ayyaana zerethi zerida gidikko ashos koshshiyabaa nu hinttefe ekkiko, hessi gitabaye?

12 Since other people [who preached to you] had that right, certainly Barnabas and I have the same right. [RHQ] However, neither of us insisted [that you give us the things that] we have a right [to receive from you]. Instead, we were willing to endure anything in order that we not hinder [anyone from believing] the message about Christ.

Harati hessa hinttefe ekkanaw enttaw maati de7ikko, nuus enttayssafe aadhdhiya maati de7ees. Shin nuuni Kiristtoosa Wonggelaas dhube gidonna mela, ubbaa genccoosippe attin he maatan go7ettibookko.

13 You should keep in mind that [the priests and servants] in the Temple eat [some of the food that people bring to] the Temple. [RHQ] Specifically, the priests who work at the altar eat some of [the food that the people bring to sacrifice on] the altar.

Xoossaa keethan oothiya asati bantta kathaa Xoossa Keethafe ekkeyssa erekketii? Qassi yarshsho bessan ootheyssati yarshshuwafe ekkeyssa erekketii?

14 So the Lord has commanded that those who proclaim the good message [about him] should receive from [those who hear that] message what they need to live on.

Hessadakka, Wonggelaa markkatteyssati duussas koshshiyabaa Wonggelaappe ekkana mela Goday kiittis.

15 However, I have not requested that you [give me] those things that I have a right [to receive from you]. Furthermore, I am writing this to you, not in order to request you to begin [giving me financial help now]. I would rather die than to [receive help from you]. I do not want anyone to prevent me from boasting [about my proclaiming God’s message to you without receiving financial help from you].

Shin taani ha maata ubban aykkoka go7ettabiikke. Taani hessa xaafiday ta maata bonchchisanaw koyada gidenna. Oonikka ta ceequwa hada oothanayssafe hayqoy taw lo77o.

16 When I proclaim the message about Christ, I cannot boast [about doing it], because [Christ] has commanded me [to do it]. I would be very miserable (OR, [I am afraid that] God would punish me) if I did not proclaim that message.

Taani Wonggelaa odey kiitettida gishossafe attin tana ceeqisiyabaa gidenna. Wonggelaa odonna ixxiko, tana ayye.

17 If I had decided by myself to proclaim it, [God] would reward me. But I did not decide by myself to do that. I am simply doing the work that [God] entrusted to me.

Taani Wonggelaa dosada sabbakikko taw woytoy de7ees. Shin taani Wonggelaa dosonna kiitettada sabbakiyabaa gidikko hessa Xoossay taw hadara immis.

18 So perhaps you wonder what my reward is. [RHQ] [I will tell you]. When I proclaim the good message [about Christ], I do not ask people for financial help. It [makes me very happy not to ask for help, and being happy is the] reward I get. I do not want to use the rights that I have [when I proclaim] the gospel.

Yaatin, ta woytoy aybee? Taani Wonggelaa sabbakiya wode ta maatan go7ettonna Wonggelaa coo sabbakeyssi taw woyto.

19 I am not obligated to do what anyone else thinks that I should do. Nevertheless, when I have been with any group of people, I have made myself [do what they believed that I should do, just like a slave does what his master wants him to do]. I have done that in order that I might convince more people [to trust in Christ].

Taani oodeskka aylle gidikke, shin darota ashshanaw ubbaas aylle gidas.

20 Specifically, when I was with fellow Jews, I did the things that Jews [think that people should do]. I did that in order that I might convince some of them [to trust in Christ]. Although I am now not obligated to obey the Jewish laws and rituals, when I was with those who believe that they are obligated to obey those laws, I did the things that they [think that people should do]. I did that in order to convince some of them [to trust in Christ].

Taani Ayhudeta ashshanaw enttara entta gidas. Ta huu7en higgefe garssan de7ikke, shin higgefe garssan de7eyssata ashshanaw higgefe garssan de7iya asi gidas.

21 When I was with (non-Jews/those who do not know those laws), I did the things that non-Jews [think that people should do], in order that I might convince some of them [to trust in Christ]. I do not mean that I disobey God’s laws. No, I obey the things that Christ commanded us to do.

Xoossaa higgiyafe kare keyonna, Kiristtoosa higgiyas kiitettashe, higgey baynnayssata ashshanaw higgey baynna asada gidas.

22 When I was with those who doubt [whether God will permit them to do certain things that others] ([disapprove of/think it is not right to do]), I [avoided doing those things], in order that I might convince some of them [to trust in Christ]. In summary, I have done all the things [that the people I have been with think that others should do], in order that by every possible means I might convince some of them [to trust in Christ].

Taani daaburanchchota ashshanaw daaburanchcho gidas. Taani guuthata ashshanaw ubbaara ubbaa hanas.

23 I do all these things in order that [more people will believe] the message about Christ, and in order that I, along with other believers, may receive the good things [that God promises to give us].

Taani Wonggelaa anjjuwaa shaakettanaw, ha ubbaa Wonggelaa gisho, hanas.

24 When people run in a race, they all run, but only one of them wins the race and as a result gets a prize. You certainly know that [RHQ]. So, [just like] runners [exert themselves fully to win a race] [MET], [you should exert yourselves fully to do the things that God wants you to do], in order that you may receive the reward [that God wants to give you].

Wothan gaaddetiya ubbay woxxees, shin issuwa xalaali woyto ekkeyssa erekketii? Hessada hintteka woytuwa ekkanaw woxxite.

25 All athletes exercise their bodies strenuously in many ways. They do that in order to receive a wreath [as a reward to wear on their heads]. Those wreaths fade, but we will receive a reward that will last forever [LIT].

Gaaddetiya asa ubbay ubbaban banttana haarees. Entti hessa daaburey dhayiya kallachcha woyto ekkanaassa. Shin nuuni daaburey merinaa kallachcha woytuwa ekkanaassa.

26 For that reason, I [try hard to please God] [MET], [like a] runner who runs toward the goal [LIT]. I [try hard to accomplish what God wants me to accomplish, like] a boxer tries hard to hit his opponent, not to miss hitting him.

Hessa gisho, taani qofi baynna asada woxxike. Carkko yimppiya asada coo kushe yeddike.

27 I beat my body [to make it do what I want it to do] [MET], [as] slaves [obey their masters], in order that, after I have proclaimed [God’s message] to others, he will not [say that I do] not deserve to receive a reward.

Shin taani haratas Wonggelaa sabbakidaappe guye ta huu7en yeggettida asi gidonna mela ta asatethaa wolqqan haarada taw kiitettana mela oothays.