1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man so reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God,

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 and as to the rest, it is required in the stewards that one may be found faithful,

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

3 and to me it is for a very little thing that by you I may be judged, or by man’s Day, but I do not even judge myself,

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yes, I judge not my own self.

4 for I have been conscious of nothing for myself, but I have not been declared right in this—and He who is discerning me is the LORD:

For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judges me is the Lord.

5 so, then, judge nothing before the time, until the LORD may come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of the darkness, and will reveal the counsels of the hearts, and then the praise will come to each from God.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

6 And these things, brothers, I transferred to myself and to Apollos because of you, that in us you may learn not to think above that which has been written, that you may not be puffed up one for one against the other,

And these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that you might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

7 for who makes you to differ? And what do you have, that you did not receive? And if you also received, why do you glory as not having received?

For who makes you to differ from another? and what have you that you did not receive? now if you did receive it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it?

8 Already you are having been filled, already you were rich, apart from us you reigned, and I also wish you reigned, that we also may reign together with you,

Now you are full, now you are rich, you have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God you did reign, that we also might reign with you.

9 for I think that God set forth us the apostles last—as appointed to death, because we became a spectacle to the world, and messengers, and men;

For I think that God has set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.

10 we [are] fools because of Christ, and you wise in Christ; we [are] ailing, and you strong; you glorious, and we dishonored;

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

11 to the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are battered, and wander,

Even to this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;

12 and labor, working with [our] own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

13 being spoken evil of, we plead; we became as filth of the world—of all things an outcast—until now.

Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things to this day.

14 Not [as] putting you to shame do I write these things, but I admonish as my beloved children,

I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

15 for if a myriad of child-conductors you may have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, through the good news, I begot you;

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

16 I call on you, therefore, become followers of me;

Why I beseech you, be you followers of me.

17 because of this I sent to you Timotheus, who is my child, beloved and faithful in the LORD, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, according as everywhere in every assembly I teach.

For this cause have I sent to you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

18 And some were puffed up as if I were not coming to you;

Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.

19 but I will come quickly to you, if the LORD may will, and I will not know the word of those puffed up, but the power;

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

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

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

21 What do you wish? Will I come to you with a rod, or in love, also with a spirit of meekness?

What will you? shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?