1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man, so, be reckoning of us, as officers of Christ, and stewards of sacred secrets of God.

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

2 Here, furthermore, it is sought in stewards, that, faithful, one be found.

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

3 With me, however, it counteth for the very smallest thing, that, by you, I should be examined, or by a human day. Nay! I am not even examining 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, of nothing, to myself, am I conscious: nevertheless, not hereby, am I declared righteous, but, he that doth examine 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, not before the fitting time, be judging anything, —until the Lord shall come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and, then, the praise shall come to each one, 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 But, these things, brethren, have I transferred unto myself and Apollos, for your sakes, that, in us, ye might learn [the lesson] —Not beyond the things that are written…! that ye do not puff yourselves up, individually, for this one against that.

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 maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou which thou didst not receive? But, if thou didst even receive it, why dost thou boast, as though thou hadst not received it?

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, ye have become full, already, ye are become rich, —apart from us, ye are become kings! And I would indeed ye had become kings, that, we also, with you, might have together become kings!

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, hath set forth, us the apostles, to be last of all, as men devoted to death, —in that, a spectacle, have we been made, unto the world, —both unto messengers and unto 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 foolish for Christ’s sake, but, ye, prudent in Christ; we are weak, but, ye, mighty; ye, all-glorious, but, we, dishonoured.

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 Until the present hour, we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and are wanderers,

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

12 And toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless, being persecuted, we hold on,

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

13 Being defamed, we beseech: as the sweepings of the world have we become, the offscouring of all—until even 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, to shame you, write I these things; but, as my beloved children, I admonish you.

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

15 For, though myriads of tutors ye should have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for, in Christ Jesus, through means of the joyful message, I, begat 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 beseech you, therefore, —become imitators of me.

Why I beseech you, be you followers of me.

17 For this cause, sent I unto you, Timothy, —who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put, you, in mind of my ways which are in Christ [Jesus], even 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 But, as though I were not coming unto you, some are puffed up!

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

19 Howbeit, I will come quickly unto you, —if, the Lord, please, —and will get to 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 will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.

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

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

21 What will ye? that, with a rod, I should come unto you? or, with love, and a spirit of meekness?

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