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 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,

Here, 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: yea, I judge not mine 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 against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth 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.

Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise 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, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not [to go] beyond the things which are written; that no one 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 maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst 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,

Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have reigned without us: yea and I would that ye 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, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto 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 ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonour.

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

Even unto 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 we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

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, the offscouring of all things, even until now.

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 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 ye should have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel.

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

I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators 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 unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, even as I 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 I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word 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 ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of meekness?