1 Corinthians, 4

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

1. Let everyone then see us as the servants of Christ and stewards of the secret works of God.

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

2. Being stewards, faithfulness shall be demanded of us;

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

3. but I do not mind if you or any human court judges me. I do not even judge myself;

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

4. my conscience indeed does not accuse me of anything, but that is not enough for me to be set right with God: the Lord is the one who judges me.

5. 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.

5. Therefore, do not judge before the time, until the coming of the Lord. He will bring to light whatever was hidden in darkness and will disclose the secret intentions of the hearts. Then each one will receive praise from God.

6. And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and [to] Apollos for your sakes; that ye 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.

6. Brothers and sisters, you forced me to apply these comparisons to Apollos and to myself. Learn by this example not to believe yourselves superior by siding with one against the other.

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]?

7. How then are you more than the others? What have you that you have not received? And if you received it, why are you proud, as if you did not receive it?

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

8. So, then, you are already rich and satisfied, and feel like kings without us! I wish you really were kings, so that we might enjoy the kingship 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 unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

9. It seems to me that God has placed us, the apostles, in the last place, as if condemned to death, and as spectacles for the whole world, for the angels as well as for mortals.

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

10. We are fools for Christ, while you show forth the wisdom of Christ. We are weak, you are strong. You are honored, while we are despised.

11. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

11. Until now we hunger and thirst, we are poorly clothed and badly treated, while moving from place to place.

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

12. We labor, working with our hands. People insult us and we bless them, they persecute us and we endure everything;

13. Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, [and are] the offscouring of all things unto this day.

13. they speak evil against us, and ours are works of peace. We have become like the scum of the earth, like the garbage of humankind until now.

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

14. I do not write this to shame you, but to warn you as very dear 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.

15. Because even though you may have ten thousand guardians in the Christian life, you have only one father; and it was I who gave you life in Christ through the Gospel.

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

16. Therefore I pray you to follow my example.

17. For this cause have I sent unto 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.

17. With this purpose I send to you Timothy, my dear and trustworthy son in the service of the Lord. He will remind you of my way of Christian life, as I teach it in all churches everywhere.

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

18. Some of you thought that I could not visit you and became very arrogant.

19. 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.

19. But I will visit you soon, the Lord willing, and I will see, not what those arrogant people say, but what they can do.

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

20. Because the kingdom of God is not a matter of words, but of power.

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

21. What do you prefer, for me to come with a stick or with love and gentleness?