¹⁷ The elders^(A) who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor,^(B) especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”^[a](C) and “The worker deserves his wages.”^[b](D)

³ This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. ⁴ Don’t we have the right to food and drink?^{(A) 5} Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife^(B) along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers^(C) and Cephas^[a]?^{(D) 6} Or is it only I and Barnabas^(E) who lack the right to not work for a living?

⁷ Who serves as a soldier^(F) at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard^(G) and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk? ⁸ Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? ⁹ For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”^[b](H) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?^{(I) 10} Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,^(J) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.^{(K) 11} If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you?^(L)