1 Corinthians 9

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

Am I not an Apostle? am I not free? haue I not seene Iesus Christ our Lord? are ye not my worke in the Lord?

2 if to others I am not an apostle — yet doubtless to you I am; for the seal of my apostleship are ye in the Lord.

If I be not an Apostle vnto other, yet doutlesse I am vnto you: for ye are the seale of mine Apostleship in the Lord.

3 My defence to those who examine me in this;

My defence to them that examine mee, is this,

4 have we not authority to eat and to drink?

Haue we not power to eat and to drinke?

5 have we not authority a sister — a wife — to lead about, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Or haue we not power to lead about a wife being a sister, as well as the rest of the Apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6 or only I and Barnabas, have we not authority — not to work?

Or I only and Barnabas, haue not we power not to worke?

7 who doth serve as a soldier at his own charges at any time? who doth plant a vineyard, and of its fruit doth not eat? or who doth feed a flock, and of the milk of the flock doth not eat?

Who goeth a warfare any time at his owne coste? who planteth a vineyarde, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flocke, and eateth not of the milke of the flocke?

8 According to man do I speak these things? or doth not also the law say these things?

Say I these thinges according to man? saith not the Lawe the same also?

9 for in the law of Moses it hath been written, 'thou shalt not muzzle an ox treading out corn;' for the oxen doth God care?

For it is written in the Lawe of Moses, Thou shalt not mussell the mouth of the oxe that treadeth out the corne: doeth God take care for oxen?

10 or because of us by all means doth He say [it]? yes, because of us it was written, because in hope ought the plower to plow, and he who is treading [ought] of his hope to partake in hope.

Either saith hee it not altogether for our sakes? For our sakes no doubt it is written, that he which eareth, should eare in hope, and that he that thresheth in hope, should be partaker of his hope.

11 If we to you the spiritual things did sow — great [is it] if we your fleshly things do reap?

If wee haue sowen vnto you spirituall thinges, is it a great thing if we reape your carnall thinges?

12 if others do partake of the authority over you — not we more? but we did not use this authority, but all things we bear, that we may give no hindrance to the good news of the Christ.

If others with you bee partakers of this power, are not we rather? neuerthelesse, we haue not vsed this power: but suffer all things, that we should not hinder the Gospel of Christ.

13 Have ye not known that those working about the things of the temple — of the temple do eat, and those waiting at the altar — with the altar are partakers?

Doe ye not knowe, that they which minister about the holy things, eate of the things of the Temple? and they which waite at the altar, are partakers with the altar?

14 so also did the Lord direct to those proclaiming the good news: of the good news to live.

So also hath the Lord ordeined, that they which preach ye Gospel, should liue of the Gospel.

15 And I have used none of these things; neither did I write these things that it may be so done in my case, for [it is] good for me rather to die, than that any one may make my glorying void;

But I haue vsed none of these things: neither wrote I these things, that it should be so done vnto me: for it were better for me to die, then that any man should make my reioycing vaine.

16 for if I may proclaim good news, it is no glorying for me, for necessity is laid upon me, and woe is to me if I may not proclaim good news;

For though I preach the Gospel, I haue nothing to reioyce of: for necessitie is laid vpon me, and woe is vnto me, if I preach not the Gospel.

17 for if willing I do this, I have a reward; and if unwillingly — with a stewardship I have been entrusted!

For if I do it willingly, I haue a reward, but if I do it against my will, notwithstanding the dispensation is committed vnto me.

18 What, then, is my reward? — that proclaiming good news, without charge I shall make the good news of the Christ, not to abuse my authority in the good news;

What is my reward then? verely that when I preach the Gospel, I make the Gospel of Christ free, that I abuse not mine authoritie in ye Gospel.

19 for being free from all men, to all men I made myself servant, that the more I might gain;

For though I bee free from all men, yet haue I made my selfe seruant vnto all men, that I might winne the moe.

20 and I became to the Jews as a Jew, that Jews I might gain; to those under law as under law, that those under law I might gain;

And vnto the Iewes, I become as a Iewe, that I may winne the Iewes: to them that are vnder the Lawe, as though I were vnder the Lawe, that I may winne them that are vnder the Lawe:

21 to those without law, as without law — (not being without law to God, but within law to Christ) — that I might gain those without law;

To them that are without Lawe, as though I were without Lawe, (when I am not without Lawe as pertaining to God, but am in the Lawe through Christ) that I may winne them that are without Lawe:

22 I became to the infirm as infirm, that the infirm I might gain; to all men I have become all things, that by all means I may save some.

To the weake I become as weake, that I may winne the weake: I am made all thinges to all men, that I might by all meanes saue some.

23 And this I do because of the good news, that a fellow-partaker of it I may become;

And this I doe for the Gospels sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

24 have ye not known that those running in a race — all indeed run, but one doth receive the prize? so run ye, that ye may obtain;

Knowe ye not, that they which runne in a race, runne all, yet one receiueth the price? so runne that ye may obtaine.

25 and every one who is striving, is in all things temperate; these, indeed, then, that a corruptible crown they may receive, but we an incorruptible;

And euery man that proueth masteries, abstaineth from all things: and they do it to obtaine a corruptible crowne: but we for an vncorruptible.

26 I, therefore, thus run, not as uncertainly, thus I fight, as not beating air;

I therefore so runne, not as vncertainely: so fight I, not as one that beateth the ayre.

27 but I chastise my body, and bring [it] into servitude, lest by any means, having preached to others — I myself may become disapproved.

But I beate downe my body, and bring it into subiection, lest by any meanes after that I haue preached to other, I my selfe should be reproued.