1 Corinthians 4

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

So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants and stewards of God’s mysteries.

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

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

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 with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by a human court. Yes, I don’t even judge my own self.

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:

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

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

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

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,

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 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 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 men.

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 have honor, but we have dishonor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish 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 though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.

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

I beg you therefore, 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.

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 assembly.

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

Now some are puffed up, 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 shortly, if the Lord is willing. And I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

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

For God’s Kingdom is not in word, 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 in love and a spirit of gentleness?