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1 Corinthians 9:3–6

3 My defense to those who examine me is this:

4 1aDo we not have a right to eat and drink?

5 1aDo we not have a right to take along a 2believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the bbrothers of the Lord and cCephas?

6 Or do only 1aBarnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working?

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1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — The New International Version (NIV)

This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. Don’t we have the right to food and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — English Standard Version (ESV)

This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, Have we not power to eat and to drink? Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — New Living Translation (NLT)

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

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — The New King James Version (NKJV)

My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — New Century Version (NCV)

This is the answer I give people who want to judge me: Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to bring a believing wife with us when we travel as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Peter? Are Barnabas and I the only ones who must work to earn our living?

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — American Standard Version (ASV)

My defence to them that examine me is this. Have we no right to eat and to drink? Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

My defence to those who examine me is this: Have we not a right to eat and to drink? have we not a right to take round a sister as wife, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Or I alone and Barnabas, have we not a right not to work?

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

This is how I defend myself to those who cross-examine me. Don’t we have the right to eat and drink? Don’t we have the right to take our wives along with us like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephasdo? Or is it only Barnabas and I who don’t have any rights, except to find work to support ourselves? 

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

My defense to those who examine me is this: Don’t we have the right to eat and drink? Don’t we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas? Or do Barnabas and I alone have no right to refrain from working?

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

My defense to those who examine me is this: Do we not have the right to eat and drink? Do we not have the right to take along a sister as wife, like the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or do only I and Barnabas not have the right to refrain from working?

1 Corinthians 9:3–6 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

That is what I say to stand up for myself when people judge me.

Don’t we have the right to eat and drink? Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife with us when we travel? The other apostles do. The Lord’s brothers do. Peter does. Or are Barnabas and I the only ones who have to work for a living?


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