1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man so thinke of vs, as of the ministers of Christ, and disposers of the secrets of God:

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

2 And as for the rest, it is required of the disposers, that euery man be found faithfull.

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

3 As touching me, I passe very litle to be iudged of you, or of mans iudgement: no, I iudge not mine owne selfe.

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 by my selfe, yet am I not thereby iustified: but he that iudgeth 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 iudge nothing before the time, vntill the Lord come, who will lighten things that are hid in darkenesse, and make the counsels of the hearts manifest: and then shall euery man haue praise of 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 Nowe these things, brethren, I haue figuratiuely applied vnto mine owne selfe and Apollos, for your sakes, that ye might learne by vs, that no man presume aboue that which is written, that one swell not against another for any mans cause.

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 separateth thee? and what hast thou, that thou hast not receiued? if thou hast receiued it, why reioycest thou, as though thou haddest not receiued 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 Nowe ye are full: nowe ye are made rich: ye reigne as kings without vs, and would to God ye did reigne, that we also might reigne 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 thinke that God hath set forth vs the last Apostles, as men appointed to death: for we are made a gasing stocke vnto the worlde, and to the Angels, 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 fooles for Christes sake, and ye are wise in Christ: we are weake, and ye are strong: ye are honourable, and we are despised.

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 Vnto this houre we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and haue no certaine dwelling place,

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 labour, working with our owne handes: we are reuiled, and yet we blesse: we are persecuted, and suffer it.

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

13 We are euill spoken of, and we pray: we are made as the filth of the world, the offskowring of all things, vnto this time.

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

14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloued children I admonish you.

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

15 For though ye haue tenne thousand instructours in Christ, yet haue ye not many fathers: for in Christ Iesus I haue begotten you through the Gospel.

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 Wherefore, I pray you, be ye folowers of me.

I exhort you, therefore, be imitators of me.

17 For this cause haue I sent vnto you Timotheus, which is my beloued sonne, and faithfull in the Lord, which shall put you in remembrance of my wayes in Christ as I teache euery where in euery Church.

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 Some are puffed vp as though I woulde not come vnto you.

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

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will knowe, not the wordes of them which are puffed vp, 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 kingdome of God is not in worde, but in power.

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

21 What will ye? shall I come vnto you with a rod, or in loue, and in ye spirite of meekenes?

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