1 Corinthians 4

1 Let a man so reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God,

This is how a person should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the hidden truths of God.

2 and as to the rest, it is required in the stewards that one may be found faithful,

Now what is required of stewards is that they are found to be trustworthy.

3 and to me it is for a very little thing that by you I may be judged, or by man's day, but not even myself do I judge,

But for me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. For I do not even judge myself.

4 for of nothing to myself have I been conscious, but not in this have I been declared right — and he who is discerning me is the Lord:

I am not aware of any charge being made against me, but that does not mean I am innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.

5 so, then, nothing before the time judge ye, till the Lord may come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of the darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then the praise shall come to each from God.

Therefore do not pronounce judgment about anything before the time, before the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his praise from God.

6 And these things, brethren, I did transfer to myself and to Apollos because of you, that in us ye may learn not to think above that which hath been written, that ye may not be puffed up one for one against the other,

Now, brothers, I applied these principles to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that from us you might learn the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” This is so that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against the other.

7 for who doth make thee to differ? and what hast thou, that thou didst not receive? and if thou didst also receive, why dost thou glory as not having received?

For who sees any difference between you and others? What do you have that you did not freely receive? If you have freely received it, why do you boast as if you had not done so?

8 Already ye are having been filled, already ye were rich, apart from us ye did reign, and I would also ye did reign, that we also with you may reign together,

Already you have all you could want! Already you have become rich! You began to reign—and that quite apart from us! Indeed, I wish you did reign, so that we could reign with you.

9 for I think that God did set forth us the apostles last — as appointed to death, because a spectacle we became to the world, and messengers, and men;

For I think God has put us apostles on display as the last in line in a procession and like men sentenced to death. We have become a spectacle to the world—to angels, and to human beings.

10 we [are] fools because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we [are] ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;

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

11 unto the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and wander about,

Up to this present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally beaten, and we are homeless.

12 and labour, working with [our] own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer;

We work hard, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless. When we are persecuted, we endure.

13 being spoken evil of, we entreat; as filth of the world we did become — of all things an offscouring — till now.

When we are slandered, we speak with kindness. We have become, and are still considered to be, the refuse of the world and the filthiest of all things.

14 Not [as] putting you to shame do I write these things, but as my beloved children I do admonish,

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

15 for if a myriad of child-conductors ye may have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, through the good news, I — I did beget you;

For even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

16 I call upon you, therefore, become ye followers of me;

So I urge you to be imitators of me.

17 because of this I sent to you Timotheus, who is my child, beloved and faithful in the Lord, who shall remind you of my ways in Christ, according as everywhere in every assembly I teach.

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

18 And as if I were not coming unto you certain were puffed up;

Now some of you have become arrogant, acting as though I were not coming to you.

19 but I will come quickly unto you, if the Lord may will, and I will know not the word of those puffed up, but the power;

But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills. Then I will know not merely the talk of these who are so arrogant, but I will see their power.

20 for not in word is the reign of God, but in power?

For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

21 what do ye wish? with a rod shall I come unto you, or in love, with a spirit also of meekness?

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