1 Corinthians 9:3-7

World English Bible

³My defense to those who examine me is this: ⁴Have we no right to eat and to drink? ⁵Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? ⁶Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work? ⁷What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?

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1 Corinthians 9:3-7

New Living Translation

³This is my answer to those who question my authority.^[a] ⁴Don’t we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? ⁵Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife^[b] with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter^[c] does? ⁶Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?

⁷What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn’t have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn’t allowed to drink some of the milk?

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Footnotes

9:3 Greek those who examine me.
9:5a Greek a sister a wife.
9:5b Greek Cephas.

1 Corinthians 9:3-7

New International Version

³This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. ⁴Don’t we have the right to food and drink?^(A) ⁵Don’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) ⁶Or is it only I and Barnabas^(E) who lack the right to not work for a living?

⁷Who 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?

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