1 Corinthians 4

1 So, then, let a man consider us as servants only of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God.

People ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

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

Now it is required of stewards that they 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 for me it is a very small thing if I am judged by you, or by any human court. Indeed, I do not even judge myself.

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 am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not thereby acquitted; but he who judges 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.

So then, do not judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord comes, who will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the heart. At that time each person will receive 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, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your sake, so that through us you may learn not to think beyond what is written, so that you may not be puffed up, with each one of you supporting one man against another.

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 regards yoʋ as superior? What do yoʋ have that yoʋ did not receive? And if yoʋ received it, why do yoʋ boast as though yoʋ did not receive 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.

You are already full! You have already become rich! You have begun to reign without us! And how I wish that you really were reigning, so that we could 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 that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, as sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to 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 the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are esteemed, but we are dishonored.

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

To the present hour we hunger and thirst; we are poorly clothed and beaten down, with no home of our own.

12 and labor, working with our own hands: when reviled, we bless: when persecuted, we bear:

We labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are 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.

when we are slandered, we encourage. We have become like the refuse of the world, the scum of all things, even to this present time.

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

I am not writing this to shame you, but rather I am admonishing 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 even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you would not have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus I became a father to you through the gospel.

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

Therefore I urge you to be 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.

That is why I have sent you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, just as I teach them everywhere in every church.

18 Now, some are puffed up, as if I were not coming to you.

But some of you have become 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 soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of those who have become puffed up, but their power.

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

For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not by talk but by power.

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

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