1 Corinthians 4

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

So a person should consider us as Christ's servants, and stewards of God's mysteries.

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

Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.

3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment: yes, I judge not my own self.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man's judgment. Yes, I do not judge my own self.

4 For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord shall come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise from God.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one will get his praise from God.

6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself, and [to] Apollos, for your sakes; that ye may learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you on account of one, may be puffed up against another.

Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to go beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.

7 For who maketh thee to differ [from another]? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive [it], why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [it]?

For who makes you different? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I wish ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you.

9 For I think that God hath 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.

For, I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and people.

10 We [are] fools for Christ's sake, but ye [are] wise in Christ; we [are] weak, but ye [are] strong; ye [are] honorable, but we [are] despised.

We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.

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

Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.

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

We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.

13 Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things to this day.

Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.

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

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

15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet [have ye] not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.

16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

I appeal to you therefore, be imitators of me.

17 For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who will bring you into remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.

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

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

19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them who are puffed up, but the power.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

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

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

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

What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?