1 Corinthians 4

1 So us should regard a man as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 (In this case *N+kO) moreover it is required in the stewards that faithful one may be found.

Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

3 Me myself however to [the] smallest matter it is that by you I may be examined or by a human court; In fact neither myself do I examine.

I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

4 No [thing] for against myself I have been conscious of; yet not by this have I been justified; the [One] however judging me [the] Lord is.

My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.

5 So then not before [the] time anything do judge until when may have come the Lord, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the motives of the hearts; and then the praise will come to each from God.

Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

6 These things now, brothers, I have applied to myself and Apollos on account of you, so that in us you may learn not beyond (what [things] *N+kO) has been written (to think *k) that not one for one you be puffed up over the other.

Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.

7 Who for you makes different? What now have you which not you did receive? If now even you did receive [it], why boast you as not having received [it]?

For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

8 Already satiated you are, already you have been enriched, apart from us you reigned; and I wish that really you did reign, so that also we ourselves you may reign with.

Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!

9 I think for (that *k) God us apostles last has exhibited as appointed to death, because a spectacle we have become to the world both to angels and to men.

For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.

10 We ourselves [are] fools on account of Christ you yourselves however wise in Christ; we ourselves weak you yourselves however strong; You yourselves honored we ourselves however without honor.

We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.

11 As far as the present hour both we hunger and thirst and are poorly clad and are buffeted and wander homeless

To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.

12 and we toil working with [our] own hands; Being reviled we bless, being persecuted we endure,

We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

13 (being defamed *N+kO) we entreat, As [the] scum of the earth we have become, of all [the] refuse until now.

when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

14 Not shaming you do I write these things, but as children of mine beloved (admonishing [you]. *N+kO)

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

15 If for ten thousand guardians you shall have in Christ yet not many fathers; in for Christ Jesus through the gospel I myself you begot.

Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

16 I exhort therefore you, imitators of mine do become.

Therefore I urge you to imitate me.

17 On account of this I sent to you Timothy, who is my child beloved and faithful in [the] Lord, who you will remind of the ways of mine that [are] in Christ (Jesus, *NO) even as everywhere in every church I teach.

That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.

18 As to not coming now of me to you were puffed up some;

Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.

19 I will come however soon to you, if the Lord wishes, and I will find out not the talk of those puffed up but the power.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.

20 Not for in word the kingdom of God [is] but in power.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

21 What desire you? With a rod I may come to you or in love a spirit then of gentleness?

Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?