1 Corinthians 4

1 Accordingly, let man consider us to be ministers of Christ and attendants of the mysteries of God.

So let a man consider us, as ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 Here and now, it is required of attendants that each one be found to be faithful.

Here, moreover, it is required among stewards, that every one must be found faithful.

3 But as for me, it is such a small thing to be judged by you, or by the age of mankind. And neither do I judge myself.

But to me it is the smallest matter, that I may be judged by you, or by human day: but I do not judge myself.

4 For I have nothing on my conscience. But I am not justified by this. For the Lord is the One who judges me.

For I know nothing against myself; but in this I am not justified; and the Lord is the one judging me.

5 And so, do not choose to judge before the time, until the Lord returns. He will illuminate the hidden things of the darkness, and he will make manifest the decisions of hearts. And then each one shall have praise from God.

So judge nothing before the time, until the Lord may come, who will also bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then praise shall be to each one from God.

6 And so, brothers, I have presented these things in myself and in Apollo, for your sakes, so that you may learn, through us, that no one should be inflated against one person and for another, not beyond what has been written.

But, brethren, I have transferred these things to myself and Apollos on your account: that you may learn among us not to be wise above what is written; in order that you may not be puffed up one in behalf of one against another.

7 For what distinguishes you from another? And what do you have that you have not received? But if you have received it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it?

For who judges you? and what have you which you did not receive. But if indeed you received it, why do you boast, as not having received it?

8 So, now you have been filled, and now you have been made wealthy, as if to reign without us? But I wish that you would reign, so that we, too, might reign with you!

Already are ye filled, already have ye become rich; you did reign without us: and I would indeed that you did reign, in order that we also might reign along with you.

9 For I think that God has presented us as the last Apostles, as those destined for death. For we have been made into a spectacle for the world, and for Angels, and for men.

For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles the last, as exposed to death: that we may become a theater to the world, and to angels, and to men.

10 So we are fools because of Christ, but you are discerning in Christ? We are weak, but you are strong? You are noble, but we are ignoble?

We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are glorious, but we are dishonorable.

11 Even to this very hour, we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and repeatedly beaten, and we are unsteady.

until this hour we both hunger and thirst, and suffer for insufficient clothing, and are buffeted; and we tramp,

12 And we labor, working with our own hands. We are slandered, and so we bless. We suffer and endure persecution.

and we toil working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure it;

13 We are cursed, and so we pray. We have become like the refuse of this world, like the reside of everything, even until now.

being scandalized, we entreat: we have become as the offscourings of the world, the refuse of all things until now.

14 I am not writing these things in order to confound you, but in order to admonish you, as my dearest sons.

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

15 For you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but not so many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel, I have begotten you.

For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but you have not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

16 Therefore, I beg you, be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ.

Therefore I exhort you, be ye imitators of me.

17 For this reason, I have sent you Timothy, who is my dearest son, and who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere, in every church.

For this same thing I 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 Jesus, as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Certain persons have become inflated in thinking that I would not return to you.

But some were inflated, as if I was not coming unto you.

19 But I will return to you soon, if the Lord is willing. And I will consider, not the words of those who are inflated, but the virtue.

But I will come to you quickly, if the Lord may will; and I will know not the word of those who have been puffed up, but the power.

20 For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in virtue.

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

21 What would you prefer? Should I return to you with a rod, or with charity and a spirit of meekness?

What do you wish? must I come unto you with the rod, or in divine love and the spirit of meekness?