19 Although I am a free man and not anyone’s * slave, I have made myself a slave to everyone, in order to win r more people. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win Jews; to those under the law, like one under the law—though I myself am not under the law s—to win those under the law. t 21 To those who are without that law, u like one without the law—not being without God’s law but within Christ’s law—to win those without the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, in order to win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by every possible means save some. v 23 Now I do all this because of the gospel, so I may become a partner in its benefits. w

24 Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, x but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. y 25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control z in everything. However, they do it to receive a crown a that will fade away, b but we a crown that will never fade away. 26 Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. 27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified. c