1 Corinthians 4

1 So, then, let a man consider us as servants only 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 Now, it is required in stewards, that every one be found faithful.

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

3 Therefore, to me it is a very small matter that I be condemned by you, or by human judgment, seeing I do not condemn 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 am conscious to myself of no fault. However, I am not by this justified; but he who judges 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 Wherefore, do not, before the time, pass any judgment, till the Lord come; who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and lay open the counsels of the hearts; and then praise shall be to every one 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 Now, these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself, and Apollos, for your sakes, that by us you may learn not to esteem teachers above what has been written, that no one of you may, on account of one teacher, be puffed up against another.

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 Besides, who makes you to differ? For what have you which you did not receive? And now, if you did receive it, why do you boast as not receiving it?

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 Now you are filled! now you are become rich! you have reigned without it! and I wish, indeed, you had reigned, that we also might reign with you.

Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

9 For I think that God has set forth us, the Apostles, last, as persons appointed to death; because we are made a spectacle to the world, even to angels, and to 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, both to angels and men.

10 We are fools on account of Christ; but you are wise in Christ: we are weak, but you are strong: you are honored, but we are despised.

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 dishonor.

11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place,

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: when reviled, we bless: when persecuted, we bear:

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

13 when defamed, we beseech: when we are become as the purgations of the world, the filth of all things until now.

being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.

14 I write not these things to shame you; but, as my beloved children, I instruct you.

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

15 For, though you have ten thousand teachers in Christ, yet you have not many fathers; for, to Christ Jesus, through the gospel, I have begotten you.

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

16 Wherefore, I beseech you, be imitators of me.

I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me.

17 For this purpose I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord: he will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere, in every congregation.

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 are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now, some are 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 to you soon, if the Lord will, and shall know, not the speech of them who are 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 that are puffed up, but the power.

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

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

21 What do you incline? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?