1 Corinthians 4

1 Thus let a man regard us as of helpers of Christ, and managers of mysteries of God.

Let each one so think of us as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 And beyond that, it is sought in managers that any man should be found faithful.

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

3 But it is a very small thing to me that I might be appraised by you or by a day of mankind. Yet neither do I appraise myself,

But with me, it matters very little, that I should be judged by you, or by the judgment of men: indeed, I do not judge myself.

4 for I know nothing on myself. Yet I have not been made righteous in this, but he who appraises me is the Lord.

For, though I am conscious of no wrong, yet by this I am not justified: but he that judges me is the Lord.

5 Therefore do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make public the deliberations of the hearts. And then praise will come to each man from God.

So, then, judge nothing before the time, till the Lord comes, who will bring to light the secret works of darkness, and will also make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall each have his praise from God.

6 Now these things, brothers, I applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us ye might learn not to think above that which is written, so that ye may not be puffed up, one over the one against the other.

And these things, brethren, I have, in figure, applied to myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think more of teachers than what has been written; and that no one of you be vain of one to the injury of another.

7 For who makes thee different? And what have thou that thou did not receive? And also if thou received it, why do thou boast as not having received it?

For who gave you distinction, as a teacher? And what have you as a teacher, that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast, as if you had not received it?

8 Already ye are filled. Already ye have become rich. Ye reigned without us, and O that ye did indeed reign, so that we also might reign with you.

You, Corinthians, are already full; you are already rich; you have reigned as kings independently of us. And that you did indeed reign, that we also might reign with you!

9 For I think God has exhibited us the apostles least, as men sentenced to die, because we became a spectacle to the world, both to agents and to men.

For I think that God has appointed us the apostles, to the lowest place, as under sentence of death; for we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

10 We are foolish for the sake of Christ, but ye are wise in Christ. We are weak, but ye are strong. Ye are esteemed, but we are disreputable.

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honored, but we are despised.

11 As far as the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are ill clothed, and are treated roughly, and are homeless.

Even to this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are poorly clothed, and are maltreated, and wander about without a home,

12 And we toil, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

and labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

13 being slandered, we entreat. We became as trash of the world, an offscouring of all things, until now.

when defamed, we entreat; we have become like the outcasts of the world, the offscouring of all things to this day.

14 I do not write these things shaming you, but I warn you as my beloved children.

I do not write these things that I may make you ashamed; but as my beloved children I admonish you.

15 For though ye have countless instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus I begot you through the good news.

For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet you have not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

16 I beseech you therefore, become followers of me.

I exhort you, therefore, be imitators of me.

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

For this reason have I sent to you Timothy, who is my son, beloved and faithful in the Lord, that he may remind you of my ways that are in Christ, as I teach everywhere, in every church.

18 But as of me not coming to you, some men are puffed up.

Now, some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you;

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

but I will come to you quickly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the speech of those who have become arrogant, but the power.

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

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

21 What do ye want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of meekness?

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