1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man, so, be reckoning of us, as officers of Christ, and stewards of sacred secrets of God.

Let us be so accounted of by you, as the servants of Messiah, and the stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 Here, furthermore, it is sought in stewards, that, faithful, one be found.

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

3 With me, however, it counteth for the very smallest thing, that, by you, I should be examined, or by a human day. Nay! I am not even examining myself,

But to me, it is a light matter to be judged of by you, or by any man whatever; nay, I am no judge of myself.

4 For, of nothing, to myself, am I conscious: nevertheless, not hereby, am I declared righteous, but, he that doth examine me, is the Lord.

-(For I am not conscious in myself of any thing flagrant; yet I am not by this justified; for the Lord is my judge.)

5 So then, not before the fitting time, be judging anything, —until the Lord shall come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and, then, the praise shall come to each one, from God.

Therefore pronounce not judgments before the time, or until the Lord come, who will pour light upon the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the thoughts of men's hearts: and then will each one have due praise from God.

6 But, these things, brethren, have I transferred unto myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that, in us, ye might learn [the lesson] —Not beyond the things that are written…! that ye do not puff yourselves up, individually, for this one against that.

These things, my Brethren, I have stated concerning the person of myself and of Apollos, for your sakes; that, in us, ye might learn not to think of men, above what is written; and that no one might exalt himself in comparison with his fellow, on account of any person.

7 For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive? But, if thou didst even receive it, why dost thou boast, as though thou hadst not received it?

For who exploreth thee? Or what hast thou, which thou didst not receive? And if thou receivedst it, why gloriest thou, as if thou didst not receive it?

8 Already, ye have become full, already, ye are become rich, —apart from us, ye are become kings! And I would indeed ye had become kings, that, we also, with you, might have together become kings!

Now ye are yourselves full, and enriched; and, without us, are on thrones! And I wish ye were enthroned; that we also might reign with you.

9 For I think that, God, hath set forth, us the apostles, to be last of all, as men devoted to death, —in that, a spectacle, have we been made, unto the world, —both unto messengers and unto men.

But I suppose, that God hath placed us legates the last, as for death; since we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.

10 We, are foolish for Christ’s sake, but, ye, prudent in Christ; we are weak, but, ye, mighty; ye, all-glorious, but, we, dishonoured.

We are fools, on account of Messiah; but ye are wise in Messiah! We are feeble; but ye are strong! Ye are lauded, we are contemned.

11 Until the present hour, we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and are wanderers,

Unto this hour, we hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no permanent home:

12 And toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless, being persecuted, we hold on,

and we toil, working with our own hands: they defame us, and we bless: they persecute us, and we endure it:

13 Being defamed, we beseech: as the sweepings of the world have we become, the offscouring of all—until even now.

they revile us, and we entreat them: we are as the filth of the world, and the expiation for all men, up to this time.

14 Not, to shame you, write I these things; but, as my beloved children, I admonish you.

I write these things, not to shame you; but I instruct you, as dear children.

15 For, though myriads of tutors ye should have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for, in Christ Jesus, through means of the joyful message, I, begat you.

For though ye have a myriad of teachers in Messiah, yet not many fathers; for in Jesus Messiah, I have begotten you by preaching.

16 I beseech you, therefore, —become imitators of me.

I beseech you, therefore, that ye be like me.

17 For this cause, sent I unto you, Timothy, —who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put, you, in mind of my ways which are in Christ [Jesus], even as, everywhere, in every assembly, I teach.

For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, that he might bring to your recollection my ways in Messiah, agreeably to what I teach in all the churches.

18 But, as though I were not coming unto you, some are puffed up!

Now some of you are inflated, as though I would not dare come to you.

19 Howbeit, I will come quickly unto you, —if, the Lord, please, —and will get to know—not the speech of them who are puffed up, but, the power;

But I will come to you speedily, if God be willing: and I will know, not the speech of them who exalt themselves, but their power:

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

for the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

21 What will ye? that, with a rod, I should come unto you? or, with love, and a spirit of meekness?

What will ye? Shall I come to you with the rod, or with love and a gentle spirit?