< 1 Corinthians 9 >
1 Am I not free? Am I not an Apostle? Can it be denied that I have seen Jesus, our Lord? Are not you yourselves my work in the Lord?
ⲁ̅ⲙⲏ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲣⲙϩⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲙⲏ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲙⲏ ⲙⲡⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲓⲏⲥ ⲡⲉⲛϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲙⲏ ⲛⲧⲱⲧⲛ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁϩⲱⲃ ϩⲙ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
2 If to other men I am not an Apostle, yet at any rate I am one to you; for your very existence as a Christian Church is the seal of my Apostleship.
ⲃ̅ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲛϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲁ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ ⲧⲉⲥⲫⲣⲁⲅⲓⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲧⲁⲙⲛⲧⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲛⲧⲱⲧⲛ ⲡⲉ ϩⲙ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ
3 That is how I vindicate myself to those who criticize me.
ⲅ̅ⲧⲁⲓ ⲧⲉ ⲧⲁⲁⲡⲟⲗⲟⲅⲓⲁ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲁⲛⲁⲕⲣⲓⲛⲉ ⲙⲙⲟⲓ
4 Have we not a right to claim food and drink?
ⲇ̅ⲙⲏ ⲙⲛⲧⲁⲛ ⲧⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲛⲟⲩⲱⲙ ϩⲓ ⲥⲱ
5 Have we not a right to take with us on our journeys a Christian sister as our wife, as the rest of the Apostles do--and the Lord's brothers and Peter?
ⲉ̅ⲙⲏ ⲙⲛⲧⲁⲛ ⲧⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲉⲧⲣⲉⲩⲥⲱⲛⲉ ⲛⲥϩⲓ ⲙⲉ ⲟⲩⲁϩⲥ ⲛⲥⲱⲛ ⲛⲑⲉ ⲛⲛⲕⲉⲁⲡⲟⲥⲧⲟⲗⲟⲥ ⲙⲛ ⲛⲉⲥⲛⲏⲩ ⲙⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲕⲏⲫⲁⲥ
6 Or again, is it only Barnabas and myself who are not at liberty to give up working with our hands?
ⲋ̅ϫⲛ ⲙⲙⲟⲛ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲙⲁⲩⲁⲁⲧ ⲙⲛ ⲃⲁⲣⲛⲁⲃⲁⲥ ⲙⲛⲧⲁⲛ ⲧⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲙⲣϩⲱⲃ
7 What soldier ever serves at his own cost? Who plants a vineyard and yet does not eat any of the grapes? Or who tends a herd of cattle and yet does not taste their milk?
ⲍ̅ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉ ⲉϣⲁϥⲣⲙⲁⲧⲟⲓ ϩⲛ ⲛⲉϥⲟⲯⲱⲛⲓⲟⲛ ⲙⲙⲓⲛ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉⲛⲉϩ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉϣⲁϥⲧⲱϭⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲙⲁ ⲛⲉⲗⲟⲟⲗⲉ ⲛϥⲧⲙⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲕⲁⲣⲡⲟⲥ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲡⲉϣⲁϥⲙⲟⲟⲛⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲟϩⲉ ⲛϥⲧⲙⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲙⲡⲉϥⲉⲣⲱⲧⲉ
8 Am I making use of merely worldly illustrations? Does not the Law speak in the same tone?
ⲏ̅ⲙⲏ ⲕⲁⲧⲁ ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲓϫⲱ ⲛⲛⲁⲓ ⲏ ⲙⲉⲣⲉⲡⲕⲉⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ
9 For in the Law of Moses it is written, "Thou shalt not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain."
ⲑ̅ϥⲥⲏϩ ⲅⲁⲣ ϩⲙ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙⲙⲱⲩⲥⲏⲥ ϫⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲕϣⲃⲧ ⲟⲩⲙⲁⲥⲉ ⲉϥϩⲓ ⲙⲏ ⲡⲣⲟⲟⲩϣ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲡⲉ ϩⲁⲛⲉϩⲟⲟⲩ
10 Is God simply thinking about the oxen? Or is it really in our interest that He speaks? Of course, it was written in our interest, because it is His will that when a plough-man ploughs, and a thresher threshes, it should be in the hope of sharing that which comes as the result.
ⲓ̅ϫⲛ ⲉϥϫⲱ ⲙⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲛ ⲛⲧⲁⲩⲥⲁϩϥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲧⲃⲏⲏⲧⲛ ϫⲉ ϣϣⲉ ⲉⲡⲉⲧⲥⲕⲁⲓ ⲉⲥⲕⲁⲓ ⲉϫⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲉⲗⲡⲓⲥ ⲁⲩⲱ ⲡⲉⲧϩⲓ ⲉϫⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲉⲗⲡⲓⲥ ⲉⲧⲣⲉϥⲙⲉⲧⲉⲭⲉ
11 If it is we who sowed the spiritual grain in you, is it a great thing that we should reap a temporal harvest from you?
ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲁⲛϫⲟ ⲛⲏⲧⲛ ⲛⲛⲉⲡⲛⲁⲧⲓⲕⲟⲛ ⲟⲩⲛⲟϭ ⲡⲉ ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲡⲉⲧⲛⲁⲱϩⲥ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲛⲥⲁⲣⲕⲓⲕⲟⲛ
12 If other teachers possess that right over you, do not we possess it much more? Yet we have not availed ourselves of the right, but we patiently endure all things rather than hinder in the least degree the progress of the Good News of the Christ.
ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲟⲩⲛ ϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲙⲉⲧⲉⲭⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲛϩⲟⲩⲟ ϭⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲙⲡⲛⲭⲣⲱ ⲛⲧⲉⲉⲓⲉⲝⲟⲩⲥⲓⲁ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲛϥⲓ ϩⲁ ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲉⲛⲛⲉⲛϯ ⲛⲟⲩϫⲣⲟⲡ ⲙⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲙⲡⲉⲭⲥ
13 Do you not know that those who perform the sacred rites have their food from the sacred place, and that those who serve at the altar all alike share with the altar?
ⲓ̅ⲅ̅ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲧⲣϩⲱⲃ ⲉⲛⲉⲣⲡⲏⲩⲉ ⲉⲩⲟⲩⲱⲙ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲛ ⲛⲁ ⲡⲣⲡⲉ ⲛⲉⲧⲥⲣⲟϥⲧ ⲉⲡⲉⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ ⲉϣⲁⲩⲡⲱϣ ⲉϫⲱⲟⲩ ⲙⲛ ⲡⲉⲑⲩⲥⲓⲁⲥⲧⲏⲣⲓⲟⲛ
14 In the same way the Lord also directed those who proclaim the Good News to maintain themselves by the Good News.
ⲓ̅ⲇ̅ⲧⲁⲓ ⲧⲉ ⲑⲉ ⲉⲛⲧⲁ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲧⲟϣⲥ ⲛⲛⲉⲧⲧⲁϣⲉⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲙⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲉⲱⲛϩ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲙⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ
15 But I, for my part, have not used, and do not use, my full rights in any of these things. Nor do I now write with that object so far as I myself am concerned, for I would rather die than have anybody make this boast of mine an empty one.
ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲇⲉ ⲙⲡⲓⲭⲣⲱ ⲛⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲛⲁⲓ ⲛⲧⲁⲓ ⲥⲉϩⲛⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲉⲩⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲉⲓϩⲉ ⲛϩⲏⲧ ⲛⲁⲛⲟⲩⲥ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲣⲁⲙⲟⲩ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲉ ⲡⲁϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲉ ⲙⲛ ⲗⲁⲁⲩ ⲛⲁϣⲧⲣⲉϥϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲉϥϣⲟⲩⲉⲓⲧ
16 If I go on preaching the Good News, that is nothing for me to boast of; for the necessity is imposed upon me; and alas for me, if I fail to preach it!
ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ⲉⲓϣⲁⲛⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲍⲉ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲟⲩϣⲟⲩϣⲟⲩ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲁⲛ ⲡⲉ ⲟⲩϩⲧⲟⲣ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲉⲣⲟⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲟⲩⲟⲓ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲓϣⲁⲛⲧⲙⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲍⲉ
17 And if I preach willingly, I receive my wages; but if against my will, a stewardship has nevertheless been entrusted to me.
ⲓ̅ⲍ̅ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲉϩⲛⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲉⲓⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲡⲁⲓ ⲟⲩⲛⲧⲁⲓ ⲙⲙⲁⲩ ⲛⲟⲩⲃⲉⲕⲉ ⲉϣϫⲉ ⲛϩⲛⲁⲓ ⲇⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲓⲉ ⲛⲧⲁⲩⲧⲁⲛϩⲟⲩⲧ ⲉⲩⲟⲓⲕⲟⲛⲟⲙⲓⲁ
18 What are my wages then? The very fact that the Good News which I preach will cost my hearers nothing, so that I cannot be charged with abuse of my privileges as a Christian preacher.
ⲓ̅ⲏ̅ⲁϣ ϭⲉ ⲡⲉ ⲡⲁⲃⲉⲕⲉ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲡⲉ ⲉⲓⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲍⲉ ⲧⲁⲕⲁ ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ⲛⲟⲩⲉϣ ⲛϫⲟ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ⲉⲧⲙⲧⲣⲁⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲡⲁϩⲧⲟⲣ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ
19 Though free from all human control, I have made myself the slave of all in the hope of winning as many converts as possible.
ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ⲉⲓⲟ ⲅⲁⲣ ⲛⲣⲙϩⲉ ϩⲛ ϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲁⲓⲁⲁⲧ ⲛϩⲙϩⲁⲗ ⲛⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲉϯϩⲏⲩ ⲙⲡⲉϩⲟⲩⲟ
20 To the Jews I have become like a Jew in order to win Jews; to men under the Law as if I were under the Law--although I am not--in order to win those who are under the Law;
ⲕ̅ⲁⲓϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲛⲓⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓ ϩⲱⲥ ⲓⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲉϯϩⲏⲩ ⲛⲛⲓⲟⲩⲇⲁⲓ ⲁⲓϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲛⲉⲧϩⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲓϩⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲛϯϣⲟⲟⲡ ⲁⲛ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϩⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲉϯϩⲏⲩ ⲛⲛⲉⲧϩⲁ ⲡⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ
21 to men without Law as if I were without Law--although I am not without Law in relation to God but am abiding in Christ's Law--in order to win those who are without Law.
ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ⲁⲓϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲛⲁⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ϩⲱⲥ ⲁⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲁⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲁⲛ ⲙⲡⲛⲟⲩⲧⲉ ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ⲉⲁⲛⲅ ⲟⲩⲉⲛⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ ⲙⲡⲉⲭⲥ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲉϯϩⲏⲩ ⲛⲛⲁⲛⲟⲙⲟⲥ
22 To the weak I have become weak, so as to gain the weak. To all men I have become all things, in the hope that in every one of these ways I may save some.
ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ⲁⲓϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲛϭⲱⲃ ϩⲱⲥ ϭⲱⲃ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲉϯϩⲏⲩ ⲛⲛϭⲱⲃ ⲁⲓⲣⲥⲙⲟⲧ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲙⲛ ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲛⲓⲙ ϫⲉⲕⲁⲥ ⲡⲁⲛⲧⲱⲥ ⲉⲓⲉⲧⲟⲩϫⲉϩⲟⲓⲛⲉ
23 And I do everything for the sake of the Good News, that I may share with my hearers in its benefits.
ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ⲉⲉⲓⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲛⲁⲓ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ ϫⲉ ⲉⲓⲉϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲛⲁϥ ⲛⲕⲟⲓⲛⲱⲛⲟⲥ
24 Do you not know that in the foot-race the runners all run, but that only one gets the prize? You must run like him, in order to win with certainty.
ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ⲛⲧⲉⲧⲛⲥⲟⲟⲩⲛ ⲁⲛ ϫⲉ ⲛⲉⲧⲡⲏⲧ ϩⲙ ⲡⲉⲥⲧⲁⲇⲓⲟⲛ ⲥⲉⲡⲏⲧ ⲙⲉⲛ ⲧⲏⲣⲟⲩ ⲟⲩⲁ ⲇⲉ ⲡⲉϣⲁϥϫⲓ ⲡⲉⲕⲗⲟⲙ ⲡⲱⲧ ⲛⲧⲉⲓϩⲉ ϫⲉ ⲉⲧⲉⲧⲛⲉⲧⲁϩⲟ
25 But every competitor in an athletic contest practices abstemiousness in all directions. They indeed do this for the sake of securing a perishable wreath, but we for the sake of securing one that will not perish.
ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ⲟⲩⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲉⲧⲁⲅⲱⲛⲓⲍⲉ ϣⲁϥⲉⲅⲕⲣⲁⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲉϩⲱⲃ ⲛⲓⲙ ⲛⲏ ⲙⲉⲛ ϫⲉ ⲉⲩⲉϫⲓ ⲛⲟⲩⲕⲗⲟⲙ ⲉϣⲁϥⲧⲁⲕⲟ ⲁⲛⲟⲛ ⲇⲉ ⲛⲟⲩⲁⲧⲧⲁⲕⲟ
26 That is how I run, not being in any doubt as to my goal. I am a boxer who does not inflict blows on the air,
ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ϭⲉ ⲉⲓⲡⲏⲧ ⲛⲧⲉⲓϩⲉ ϩⲱⲥ ϩⲛ ⲟⲩϩⲱⲡ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲓⲡⲩⲕⲧⲉⲩⲉ ⲛⲧⲉⲓϩⲉ ϩⲱⲥ ⲉⲛⲉⲉⲓϩⲓⲟⲩⲉ ⲁⲛ ⲉⲡⲁⲏⲣ
27 but I hit hard and straight at my own body and lead it off into slavery, lest possibly, after I have been a herald to others, I should myself be rejected.
ⲕ̅ⲍ̅ⲁⲗⲗⲁ ϯⲱϥⲉ ⲙⲡⲁⲥⲱⲙⲁ ϯⲉⲓⲣⲉ ⲙⲙⲟϥ ⲛϩⲙϩⲁⲗ ⲙⲏⲡⲱⲥ ⲉⲓⲧⲁϣⲉⲟⲉⲓϣ ⲛϩⲉⲛⲕⲟⲟⲩⲉ ⲧⲁϣⲱⲡⲉ ⲁⲛⲟⲕ ⲛϫⲟⲟⲩⲧ