1 Corinthians 4

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

Let any man look upon us as servants of Christ, and stewards of the secret truths of God.

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

Now it is required of 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 to me it matters very little that I am judged by you, or by any earthly court.

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:

Indeed I do not even judge myself; for though I know nothing against myself, yet that does not vindicate me; for he who 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.

So make no hasty judgment until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make plain the purpose of men’s hearts. Then each man’s due praise will come to him from 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,

Now these things, brothers, I have applied in a figure to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that in us you might learn not to go beyond what is written; that none of you be puffed up for the one, against the other.

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 a differ, brother? Or what have you that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why are you boasting 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,

But you, forsooth, are already full, are you? You are already rich? Without us you are already reigning? Yes, and I would that you did reign, so 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;

But it seems to me that God has exhibited us apostles, last of all, like men doomed to death; for we are made a spectacle to the whole world, both to men and to angels.

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

For Christ’s sake we are fools, but you are quite philosophic in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong; you are honorable, but we are outcast.

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

Even to his very hour we are enduring hunger and thirst and nakedness and blows.

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

Homeless men, we toil, working with our own hands.

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

When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when defamed, we conciliate. We have been made, as it were, scum-o’-the-earth, the very refuse of the world, to this very hour!

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

I am not writing this to shame you, but to admonish you, as my beloved children.

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 tutors in Christ Jesus, you can have but one father. For in Christ Jesus I begot you through the gospel.

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

I beg you then to imitate my example.

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.

With this in mind I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dear and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ; the manner in which I ever teach everywhere 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 were not coming 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 come to you I will, and that soon, if it please the Lord, and then I shall learn not the talk of these boasters, but their power.

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

For the kingdom of God is not in talk, 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?

Which do you want? Am I to come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?