1 Corinthians 9

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

1Am I not a free man? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Aren’t you the result of my work for the Lord?

2If 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.

2Even if others do not accept me as an apostle, I certainly am one to you. You are the proof of my apostleship in the Lord.

3My defence to them that examine me is this.

3This is my answer to those who want to judge me.

4Have we no right to eat and to drink?

4Don't we have the right to be given food and drink?

5Have 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?

5Don't we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us on our travels, just like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas do?

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

6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work for a living?

7What 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?

7What soldier serves in the army at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and doesn't eat its grapes? Or who takes care of a flock and doesn't drink any of the milk?

8Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?

8Am I saying this only from a human perspective? Doesn't the Law of Moses say the same thing?

9For 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,

9For it is written in the Law of Moses: 'Do not put a muzzle on an ox while it is treading out the grain.' Is God only concerned about oxen?

10or 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.

10Or wasn't he really speaking for our sake? Yes, this was written for us, because the person who plows and the person who threshes should do their work expecting to get a share of the harvest.

11If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?

11If we have planted spiritual seeds among you, is it too much to ask to harvest some material support from you?

12If 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.

12If others have this right to be supported by you, don't we have an even greater right? But we haven't used this right. Instead, we put up with everything so that we won't place any obstacle in the way of the Good News of Christ.

13Know 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?

13Don't you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar get a share of the offerings?

14Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel.

14In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who preach the Good News should get their living from the Good News.

15But 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.

15But I haven't used any of these rights. And I am not writing this now to suggest that you start supporting me. I would rather die than have anyone take away my pride in doing this for free.

16For 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.

16When I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about, because I am compelled to do it. How terrible it would be for me if I didn't preach the Good News!

17For 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.

17If I did this of my own choice, I would deserve a reward. But since I am compelled to do it, I am simply fulfilling a duty that has been trusted to me. scraps.

18What 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.

18So what is my reward? It is the satisfaction of offering the Good News for free, without demanding the support I have a right to receive.

19For though I was free from all men, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

19Even though I am a free man and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone to win as many people as possible.

20And 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;

20When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to win the Jews. To those under the law, I lived as if I were under the law (even though I am not), so that I might win those under the law.

21to 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.

21To those who do not have the law, I lived like someone without the law (though I am not free from God’s law, but obey the law of Christ), so that I might win those who do not have the law.

22To 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.

22To the weak, I became weak so that I could win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that I might save some of them by any possible means.

23And I do all things for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.

23I do all this for the sake of the Good News, so that I can share in its blessings.

24Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.

24Don't you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way that you will win.

25And 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.

25Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict self-control. They do it to win a crown that will fade away, but we do it for a crown that will last forever.

26I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:

26So I run with a clear goal. I do not fight like a boxer who is just hitting the air.

27but 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.

27Instead, I discipline my body and keep it under control. I do this so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.