1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Let any man look upon us as servants of Christ, and stewards of the secret truths of God.

2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Now it is required of stewards, that a man be found faithful.

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.

But to me it matters very little that I am judged by you, or by any earthly court.

4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

Indeed I do not even judge myself; for though I know nothing against myself, yet that does not vindicate me; for he who judges me is the Lord.

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

So make no hasty judgment until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make plain the purpose of men’s hearts. Then each man’s due praise will come to him from God.

6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and [to] Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

Now these things, brothers, I have applied in a figure to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that in us you might learn not to go beyond what is written; that none of you be puffed up for the one, against the other.

7 For who maketh thee to differ [from another]? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive [it], why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [it]?

For who makes you a differ, brother? Or what have you that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why are you boasting as if you had not received it?

8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

But you, forsooth, are already full, are you? You are already rich? Without us you are already reigning? Yes, and I would that you did reign, so that we also might reign with you.

9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

But it seems to me that God has exhibited us apostles, last of all, like men doomed to death; for we are made a spectacle to the whole world, both to men and to angels.

10 We [are] fools for Christ’s sake, but ye [are] wise in Christ; we [are] weak, but ye [are] strong; ye [are] honourable, but we [are] despised.

For Christ’s sake we are fools, but you are quite philosophic in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong; you are honorable, but we are outcast.

11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

Even to his very hour we are enduring hunger and thirst and nakedness and blows.

12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

Homeless men, we toil, working with our own hands.

13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, [and are] the offscouring of all things unto this day.

When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when defamed, we conciliate. We have been made, as it were, scum-o’-the-earth, the very refuse of the world, to this very hour!

14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn [you].

I am not writing this to shame you, but to admonish you, as my beloved children.

15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ Jesus, you can have but one father. For in Christ Jesus I begot you through the gospel.

16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

I beg you then to imitate my example.

17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

With this in mind I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dear and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ; the manner in which I ever teach everywhere in every church.

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

Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

But come to you I will, and that soon, if it please the Lord, and then I shall learn not the talk of these boasters, but their power.

20 For the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power.

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

21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and [in] the spirit of meekness?

Which do you want? Am I to come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?