1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man so thinke of vs, as of the ministers of Christ, and disposers of the secrets of God:

LET a man so account of us, as the under servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 And as for the rest, it is required of the disposers, that euery man be found faithfull.

Moreover it is expected of stewards, that a man be found faithful.

3 As touching me, I passe very litle to be iudged of you, or of mans iudgement: no, I iudge not mine owne selfe.

But it is my least consideration that I should be judged by you, or by human opinion: yea I decide not respecting myself.

4 For I know nothing by my selfe, yet am I not thereby iustified: but he that iudgeth me, is the Lord.

For though I am not conscious to myself of any unfaithfulness, yet am I not thereby justified; but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

5 Therefore iudge nothing before the time, vntill the Lord come, who will lighten things that are hid in darkenesse, and make the counsels of the hearts manifest: and then shall euery man haue praise of God.

Wherefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come, who also will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will manifest the counsels of men’s hearts; and then shall praise be given to each from God.

6 Nowe these things, brethren, I haue figuratiuely applied vnto mine owne selfe and Apollos, for your sakes, that ye might learne by vs, that no man presume aboue that which is written, that one swell not against another for any mans cause.

But these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself, and Apollos for your sake; that in us ye might learn not to be attached, beyond what is written, lest one being for one minister, ye be puffed up with prejudice against another.

7 For who separateth thee? and what hast thou, that thou hast not receiued? if thou hast receiued it, why reioycest thou, as though thou haddest not receiued it?

For who distinguisheth thee? and what hast thou which thou hast not received? But if thou also hast received it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

8 Nowe ye are full: nowe ye are made rich: ye reigne as kings without vs, and would to God ye did reigne, that we also might reigne with you.

Now ye are full, now ye have grown rich, ye have reigned without us: and I wish indeed that you may reign, that we also might reign together with you.

9 For I thinke that God hath set forth vs the last Apostles, as men appointed to death: for we are made a gasing stocke vnto the worlde, and to the Angels, and to men.

For I think that God hath exposed us his apostles the last as devoted unto death. For we have been made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.

10 We are fooles for Christes sake, and ye are wise in Christ: we are weake, and ye are strong: ye are honourable, and we are despised.

We are counted fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are mighty; ye are honourable persons, but we despised.

11 Vnto this houre we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and haue no certaine dwelling place,

For even to this present hour we undergo hunger and thirst and nakedness, and are buffeted about, and have no settled abode;

12 And labour, working with our owne handes: we are reuiled, and yet we blesse: we are persecuted, and suffer it.

and work hard, labouring with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it;

13 We are euill spoken of, and we pray: we are made as the filth of the world, the offskowring of all things, vnto this time.

being injuriously spoken of, we entreat; we are made as the ordures of the world, as the sweepings of all things unto this day.

14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloued children I admonish you.

I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I admonish you.

15 For though ye haue tenne thousand instructours in Christ, yet haue ye not many fathers: for in Christ Iesus I haue begotten you through the Gospel.

For though ye may have ten thousand teachers in Christ, yet not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus through the Gospel I have begotten you.

16 Wherefore, I pray you, be ye folowers of me.

Now I conjure you, be followers of me.

17 For this cause haue I sent vnto you Timotheus, which is my beloued sonne, and faithfull in the Lord, which shall put you in remembrance of my wayes in Christ as I teache euery where in euery Church.

For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my son beloved and faithful in Christ, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ Jesus, as I teach every where in every church.

18 Some are puffed vp as though I woulde not come vnto you.

Now some are puffed up, as though I would not really come to you.

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will knowe, not the wordes of them which are puffed vp, but the power.

But I will come shortly unto you, if the Lord please, and will know, not the prating of them that are puffed up, but the power.

20 For the kingdome of God is not in worde, but in power.

For the kingdom of God is not in talk, but in power.

21 What will ye? shall I come vnto you with a rod, or in loue, and in ye spirite of meekenes?

What is your wish? That I should come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?