1 Corinthians 9

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 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?	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?
2 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.	2 Although I may not be an apostle for others, certainly I am for you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,	3 My defense against those who would pass judgment on me is this.
4 Have we not power to eat and to drink?	4 Do we not have the right to eat and drink?
5 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?	5 Do we not have the right to take along a Christian wife, as do the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Kephas?
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?	6 Or is it only myself and Barnabas who do not have the right not to work?
7 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?	7 Who ever serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating its produce? Or who shepherds a flock without using some of the milk from the flock?
8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?	8 Am I saying this on human authority, or does not the law also speak of these things?
9 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?	9 It is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is God concerned about oxen,
10 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.	10 or is he not really speaking for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope, and the thresher in hope of receiving a share.
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?	11 If we have sown spiritual seed for you, is it a great thing that we reap a material harvest from you?
12 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.	12 If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more? Yet we have not used this right. On the contrary, we endure everything so as not to place an obstacle to the gospel of Christ.
13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the alter are partakers with the alter?	13 Do you not know that those who perform the temple services eat (what) belongs to the temple, and those who minister at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?
14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.	14 In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel.
15 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.	15 I have not used any of these rights, however, nor do I write this that it be done so in my case. I would rather die. Certainly no one is going to nullify my boast.
16 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!	16 If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it!
17 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.	17 If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
18 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.	18 What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.	19 Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible.
20 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;	20 To the Jews I became like a Jew to win over Jews; to those under the law I became like one under the law--though I myself am not under the law--to win over those under the law.
21 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.	21 To those outside the law I became like one outside the law--though I am not outside God's law but within the law of Christ--to win over those outside the law.
22 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.	22 To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.	23 All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.	24 Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win.
25 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.	25 Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:	26 Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing.
27 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.	27 No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.