1 Corinthians 9

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

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

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

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.

3 My answer to them that examine me is this,

My defence to them that 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 lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

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

Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?

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

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?

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

Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?

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, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth,

10 Or saith he [this] 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 saith he it assuredly 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.

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

If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?

12 If others are 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, 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.

13 Do ye not know that they who minister about holy things live [from the things] of the temple, and they who wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat [of] the things of the temple, [and] they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?

14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they who preach the gospel should live by the gospel.

Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel.

15 But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done to 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 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

19 For though I am free from all [men], yet I have made myself servant to all, that I might gain the more.

For though I was free from all [men], 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 the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

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;

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 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.

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

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.

23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with [you].

And I do all things for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.

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

Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.

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.

And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth 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 I fight, not as one that beateth the air:

I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:

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

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.