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 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 I am not an apostle to others, yet at any rate I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in Lord.

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

My defence to those who examine me is this:

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

Have we not a 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 not a right to take round a sister wife, as also the other 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 alone and Barnabas, have we not a right not to work?

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?

Who ever carries on war at his own charges? who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? or who herds a flock and does not eat 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 as a man, or does not the law also say these things?

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 in the law of Moses it is written, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that is treading out corn. Is God occupied about the oxen,

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 does he say altogether for our sakes? For for our sakes it has been written, that the plougher should plough in hope, and he that treads out corn, in hope of partaking of.

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

If we have sown to you spiritual things, great 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, should not rather we? But we have not used this right, but we bear all things, that we may put no hindrance in the way of the glad tidings of the 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?

Do ye not know that they who labour sacred things eat of the temple; they that attend at the altar partake with the altar?

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

So also the Lord has ordained to those that announce the glad tidings to live of the glad tidings.

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. Now I have not written these things that it should be thus in my case; for good for me rather to die than that any one should make vain my boast.

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 announce the glad tidings, I have nothing to boast of; for a necessity is laid upon me; for it is woe to me if I should not announce the glad tidings.

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 voluntarily, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with an administration.

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 is the reward then that I have? That in announcing the glad tidings I make the glad tidings costless, so as not to have made use, as belonging to me, of my right in the glad tidings.

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 being free from all, I have made myself bondman to all, that I might gain the most.

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 I became to the Jews as a Jew, in order that I might gain the Jews: to those under law, as under law, not being myself under law, in order that I might gain those under 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 those without law, as without law, (not as without law to God, but as legitimately subject to Christ,) in order that I might gain 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.

I became to the weak, weak, in order that I might gain the weak. To all I have become all things, in order that at all events I might 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 sake of the glad tidings, that I may be fellow-partaker with them.

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 who run in race-course run all, but one receives the prize? Thus run in order that ye may obtain.

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.

But every one that contends is temperate in all things: they then indeed 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 beateth the air:

I therefore thus run, as not uncertainly; so I combat, 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 lead it captive, lest having preached to others I should be myself rejected.