9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord?
9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

9:2 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.
9:2 If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

9:3 My defence to them that examine me is this.
9:3 My defense to those who examine me is this:

9:4 Have we no right to eat and to drink?
9:4 Do we not have a right to eat and drink?

9:5 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?
9:5 Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

9:6 Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?
9:6 Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working?

9:7 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?
9:7 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?

9:8 Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?
9:8 I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things?

9:9 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,
9:9 For it is written in the Law of Moses, "YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING." God is not concerned about oxen, is He?

9:10 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.
9:10 Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher [to thresh] in hope of sharing [the crops.]

9:11 If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?
9:11 If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we should reap material things from you?

9:12 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.
9:12 If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

9:13 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?
9:13 Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the [food] of the temple, [and] those who attend regularly to the altar have their share with the altar?

9:14 Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel.
9:14 So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.

9:15 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 glorifying void.
9:15 But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things that it may be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one.

9:16 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.
9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.

9:17 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.
9:17 For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.

9:18 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.
9:18 What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

9:19 For though I was free from all (men,) I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
9:19 For though I am free from all [men,] I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more.

9:20 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;
9:20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law;

9:21 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.
9:21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law.

9:22 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.
9:22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

9:23 And I do all things for the gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.
9:23 And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

9:24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.
9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but [only] one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.

9:25 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.
9:25 And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then [do it] to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

9:26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:
9:26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;

9:27 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.
9:27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.