1 Corinthians 9

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

Don't I serve as an apostle? Don't I possess freedom? Haven't I witnessed our Lord Jesus Christ? Aren't you all the result of my service to the Lord?

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

Even if others don't see me as a messenger of faith, you surely do. For in the eyes of the Lord, you are the proof of my divine mission.

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

My response to those who question me is this:

Have we not power to eat and to drink?

Don't we have the right to enjoy food and drink?

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

Don't we have the right to bring along a believing wife, just like the other apostles, Jesus' brothers, and Peter?

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

Don't Barnabas and I have the right to stop working if we choose?

Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

Who would go to war and pay for it themselves? Who would plant a vineyard and not enjoy its fruit? Or who would tend to a flock and not drink its milk?

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

Am I speaking from a human perspective, or doesn't the law also express the same sentiment?

For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

Moses' law says, "Don't muzzle the ox while it's treading out the grain." Does God really worry about oxen?

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

Does He say this just for us? Absolutely, it's written for us. It means, whoever works should do so with hope, and whoever reaps should share the joy of that hope.

If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

If we've shared with you spiritual wisdom, is it too much to ask for your worldly support in return?

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 have the right to your support, shouldn't we have it even more? Yet we've chosen not to use this right. Instead, we endure everything so as not to stand in the way of the message of Christ.

Do ye 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?

Aren't you aware that those who serve in sacred roles rely on the temple's resources for their livelihood? And those who assist at the altar share in its offerings?

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

The Lord has lovingly decreed that those who passionately share His good news should also joyfully sustain their lives through it.

But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

I haven't taken advantage of any of these things, nor have I written this so that it should be done for me. I'd rather die than let anyone take away my reason to be proud.

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

Even though I spread the good news, I have nothing to boast about. I must do it; woe to me if I don't share the gospel!

For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

If I willingly do this, I'll be rewarded. But if I do it reluctantly, it's still my duty to spread the gospel.

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

So, what's my reward? Simply this: to share Christ's message free of charge, without claiming the support I have a right to.

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

Even though I owe nothing to anyone, I choose to serve everyone, hoping to touch more lives.

And unto 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;

I embraced the ways of the Jews to connect with them, and I respected their laws to win over those who follow the law.

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.

For those who don't live under the Law of Moses, I live as one outside it too, not disregarding God's law but following Christ's, so I can win them over.

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 weak myself, to win them over. I adapted to everyone's needs, hoping by every possible means to guide at least a few towards salvation.

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

I do this for the love of the gospel, hoping to share its blessings with you.

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

Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run your race to win.

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

Every person who fights to succeed shows self-control in all aspects. Some do it for fleeting rewards; but we do it for an everlasting prize.

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

So, I run with purpose, not in confusion; I fight with conviction, not aimlessly swinging in the air.

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.

I discipline my body and control it, so that after guiding others, I don't end up lost myself.