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

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

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

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.

3 M ine answer to them that do examine me is this,

My defence to them that examine me is this.

4 H ave we not power to eat and to drink?

Have we no right to eat and to drink?

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

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?

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

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

7 W ho 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?

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?

8 S ay I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

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

9 F or 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?

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,

10 O r 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.

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.

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

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

12 I f 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 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.

13 D o 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?

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?

14 E ven so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

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

15 B ut 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.

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.

16 F or 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!

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.

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

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.

18 W hat 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.

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.

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

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

20 A nd 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;

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;

21 T o 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 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.

22 T o 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, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

23 A nd this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

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

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

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

25 A nd 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.

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.

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

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

27 B ut 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 buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.