1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
1我不是自由的麼？我不是使徒麼？我不是見過我們的主耶穌麼？你們不是我在主裡面所做之工麼？
2If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
2假若在別人，我不是使徒，在你們，我總是使徒，因為你們在主裡正是我作使徒的印證。
3My defense to those who examine me is this:
3我對那盤問我的人就是這樣分訴：
4Do we not have a right to eat and drink?
4難道我們沒有權柄靠福音吃喝麼？
5Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?
5難道我們沒有權柄娶信主的姊妹為妻，帶著一同往來，彷彿其餘的使徒和主的弟兄並磯法一樣麼？
6Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working?
6獨有我與巴拿巴沒有權柄不做工麼？
7Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock?
7有誰當兵自備糧餉呢？有誰栽葡萄園不吃園裡的果子呢？有誰牧養牛羊不吃牛羊的奶呢？
8I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things?
8我說這話，豈是照人的意見；律法不也是這樣說麼？
9For it is written in the Law of Moses, 'YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING.' God is not concerned about oxen, is He?
9就如摩西的律法記著說：牛在場上踹穀的時候，不可籠住他的嘴。難道神所掛念的是牛麼？
10Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher [to thresh] in hope of sharing [the crops].
10不全是為我們說的麼？分明是為我們說的。因為耕種的當存著指望去耕種；打場的也當存得糧的指望去打場。
11If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?
11我們若把屬靈的種子撒在你們中間，就是從你們收割奉養肉身之物這還算大事麼？
12If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
12若別人在你們身上有這權柄，何況我們呢？然而，我們沒有用過這權柄，倒凡事忍受，免得基督的福音被阻隔。
13Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the [food] of the temple, [and] those who attend regularly to the altar have their share from the altar?
13你們豈不知為聖事勞碌的就吃殿中的物麼？伺候祭壇的就分領壇上的物麼？
14So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.
14主也是這樣命定，叫傳福音的靠著福音養生。
15But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one.
15但這權柄我全沒有用過。我寫這話，並非要你們這樣待我，因為我寧可死也不叫人使我所誇的落了空。
16For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel.
16我傳福音原沒有可誇的，因為我是不得已的。若不傳福音，我便有禍了。
17For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
17我若甘心做這事，就有賞賜；若不甘心，責任卻已經託付我了。
18What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.
18既是這樣，我的賞賜是甚麼呢？就是我傳福音的時候叫人不花錢得福音，免得用盡我傳福音的權柄。
19For though I am free from all [men], I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.
19我雖是自由的，無人轄管；然而我甘心作了眾人的僕人，為要多得人。
20To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;
20向猶太人，我就作猶太人，為要得猶太人；向律法以下的人，我雖不在律法以下，還是作律法以下的人，為要得律法以下的人。
21to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.
21向沒有律法的人，我就作沒有律法的人，為要得沒有律法的人；其實我在神面前，不是沒有律法；在基督面前，正在律法之下。
22To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.
22向軟弱的人，我就作軟弱的人，為要得軟弱的人。向甚麼樣的人，我就作甚麼樣的人。無論如何，總要救些人。
23I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
23凡我所行的，都是為福音的緣故，為要與人同得這福音的好處。
24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but [only] one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
24豈不知在場上賽跑的都跑，但得獎賞的只有一人？你們也當這樣跑，好叫你們得著獎賞。
25Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then [do it] to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
25凡較力爭勝的，諸事都有節制，他們不過是要得能壞的冠冕；我們卻是要得不能壞的冠冕。
26Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
26所以，我奔跑不像無定向的；我鬥拳不像打空氣的。
27but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
27我是攻克己身，叫身服我，恐怕我傳福音給別人，自己反被棄絕了。