1 Corinthians 9

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

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

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

If I am not an apostle to others, but I am to you at least: for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

3 My answer to them that do examine me is this,

My defence to those calling me in question is this.

4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?

Have we not a right to eat and drink?

5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

Have we not a right to lead about a sister as a wife, as the other apostles also, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

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

Have I and Barnabas alone not the right to forbear working?

7 Who goes a warfare any time at his own charges? who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? or who feeds a flock, and eats not of the milk of the flock?

Whoever goes to war at his own charges? who plants a vineyard, and does not eat the fruit of it? or who shepherdizes a flock, and does not eat of the milk of the flock?

8 Say I these things as a man? or says not the law the same also?

Whether do I speak these things according to a man? or does not the law indeed say these things?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treads out the corn. Does God take care for oxen?

For in the law of Moses it has been written, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that plows. Is there a care to God for oxen,

10 Or says he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that plows should plow in hope; and that he that threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.

or does he speak it altogether on account of us? For it was written on account of us, That the one plowing ought to plow in hope, and the one threshing 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 have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

12 If others be 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 your bounty, shall not we the more? But we have not used this privilege, but we bear all things, in order that we may not give a hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

13 Do you not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

Do you not know that those working in the sacrifices eat those things of the temple; and those serving the altar partake of the altar?

14 Even so has the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

So also the Lord has commanded those preaching the gospel to 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. But I have not written these things that it may be so in me: for it is good for me rather to die than that any one shall make void my boasting.

16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid on me; yes, woe is to me, if I preach not the gospel!

For if I preach the gospel, there is no boasting to me; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I may not preach 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 willingly, I have a reward: but if unwillingly, I have been intrusted with a dispensation.

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

Then what is my reward? that preaching the gospel, I may render the gospel free from charge, in order that I may not use my right in the gospel.

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

For being free from all, I rendered myself servant to all, that I may 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 may gain the Jews; to those under the law, as under the law, not myself being under law, that I may gain those 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 those without law, I became as without law, not being without the law of God, but under the law of Christ, that I may gain those without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

To the weak I became as weak, that I may gain the weak. I became all things to all men, that I may indeed save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

But I do all these things for the sake of the gospel, that I may be its fellow-partaker.

24 Know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain.

Do you not know that those running in the stadium, indeed all run, and one receives the prize? So run, that you may receive it.

25 And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

But every one contesting is abstinent in all things, they indeed also that they may receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air:

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

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

but I keep my body under, and enslave it, lest having preached the gospel to others, I myself may become disapproved.