1 Corinthians 4

1 So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries.

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

2 Here, moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

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

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court. Yes, I don’t even judge my own self.

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,

4 For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

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

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each man will get his praise from God.

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.

6 Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.

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.

7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

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?

8 You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

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!

9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.

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.

10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.

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

11 Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.

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

12 We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.

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

13 Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.

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

14 I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

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

15 For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.

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.

16 I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

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

17 Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

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.

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

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

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

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;

20 For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.

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

21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

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