1 Corinthians 9:3-19

3My defence to them that examine me isG1510 this.

4Have we no rightG1849 to eatG2068 and to drinkG4095?

5Have we no rightG1849 to lead about a wifeG1135 that is a believer, evenG2532 as the restG3062 of the apostlesG652, and the brethren of the LordG2962, and CephasG2786?

6Or I onlyG3441 and BarnabasG921, have we not a rightG1849 to forbear working?

7What soldierG4754 everG4218 serveth at his ownG2398 charges? who planteth a vineyardG290, and eateth not the fruitG2590 thereof? or who feedeth a flockG4167, and eateth not of the milkG1051 of the flockG4167?

8Do I speakG2980 these thingsG3778 after the manner of menG444? or saith not the lawG3551 alsoG2532 the same?

9For it is writtenG1125 in the lawG3551 of MosesG3475, Thou shalt not muzzleG5392 the oxG1016 when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxenG1016 that GodG2316 careth,

10or saith he it assuredly for our sakeG1223? Yea, for our sakeG1223 it was writtenG1125: because he that ploweth oughtG3784 to plowG722 in hopeG1680, and he that thresheth, to thresh in hopeG1680 of partaking.

11If we sowedG4687 unto you spiritualG4152 thingsG3173, is it a greatG3173 matter if we shall reapG2325 your carnal thingsG3173?

12If othersG243 partakeG3348 of this rightG1849 over you, do not we yetG235 moreG3123? Nevertheless we did not useG5530 this rightG1849; but we bear all thingsG3778, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospelG2098 of ChristG5547.

13Know ye not that they that minister about sacredG2413 things eatG2068 of the things of the temple, and they that wait upon the altarG2379 have their portion with the altarG2379?

14EvenG2532 so did the LordG2962 ordain that they that proclaimG2605 the gospelG2098 should liveG2198 of the gospelG2098.

15But I have usedG5530 noneG3762 of these thingsG3778: and I writeG1125 not these thingsG3778 that it may be soG2443 done in my case; for it were goodG2570 for me ratherG3123 to dieG599, than that any manG3778 should make my glorying voidG2758.

16For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessityG318 isG1510 laid upon me; for woeG3759 isG1510 unto me, if I preach not the gospel.

17For if I do this of mine own will, I have a rewardG3408: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardshipG3622 intrusted to me.

18What thenG3767 isG1510 my rewardG3408? That, when I preach the gospelG2098, I may make the gospelG2098 without charge, soG2443 as not to use to the full my rightG1849 in the gospelG2098.

19For though I wasG1510 freeG1658 from all men, I brought myself under bondageG1402 to all, that I might gainG2770 the moreG4183.