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](A) and “The worker deserves his wages.”^[b](B)

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.”^[a](A) Is it about oxen that God is concerned?^{(B) 10} Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us,^(C) because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.^(D)