1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man so account of us as servants of Christ, and stewards of [the] mysteries 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, further, it is sought in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

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

3 But for me it is the very smallest matter that I be examined of you or of man's day. Nor do I even examine 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 I am conscious of nothing in myself; but I am not justified by this: but he that examines 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 that do not judge anything before [the] time, until the Lord shall come, who shall also both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and shall make manifest the counsels of hearts; and then shall each have [his] praise 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 Now these things, brethren, I have transferred, in their application, to myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that ye may learn in us the [lesson of] not [letting your thoughts go] above what is written, that ye may not be puffed up one for [such a] one against another.

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 makes thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou hast not received? but if also thou hast received, why boastest thou as not receiving?

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 are filled; already ye have been enriched; ye have reigned without us; and I would that ye reigned, that we also might reign with you.

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 has set us the apostles for the last, as appointed to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and 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] fools for Christ's sake, but ye prudent in Christ: we weak, but ye strong: ye glorious, but we in dishonour.

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 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are in nakedness, and buffeted, and wander without a home,

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

12 and labour, working with our own hands. Railed at, we bless; persecuted, we suffer [it];

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

13 insulted, we entreat: we are become as [the] offscouring of the world, [the] refuse of all, until 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 [as] chiding do I write these things to you, 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 if ye should have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the glad tidings.

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 entreat you therefore, be my imitators.

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

17 For this reason I have sent to you Timotheus, who is my beloved and faithful child in [the] Lord, who shall put you in mind of my ways [as] they [are] in Christ, according as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

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 some have been puffed up, as if I were not coming to you;

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

19 but I will come quickly to you, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of those that 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 the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power.

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

21 What will ye? that I come to you with a rod; or in love, and [in] a spirit of meekness?

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