1 Corinthians 4

1Let us be judged as servants of Christ, and as those who are responsible for the secret things of God.

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

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

2And it is right for such servants to be safe persons.

2Here now it is required among the dispensers that a man be found faithful.

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

3But it is a small thing to me that I am judged by you or by man's judging; I am not even a judge of myself.

3But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you or by man's day. But neither do I judge my own self.

3and 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,

4For I am not conscious of any wrong in myself; but this does not make me clear, for it is the Lord who is my judge.

4For I am not conscious to myself of anything. Yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

4for 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:

5For this reason let there be no judging before the time, till the Lord comes, who will make clear the secret things of the dark, and the designs of the heart; and then will every man have his praise from God.

5Therefore, judge not 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 from God.

5so, 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.

6My brothers, it is because of you that I have taken Apollos and myself as examples of these things, so that in us you might see that it is not wise to go farther than what is in the holy Writings, so that no one of you may be lifted up against his brother.

6But these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollo, for your sakes: that in us you may learn that one be not puffed up against the other for another, above that which is written.

6And 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,

7For who made you better than your brother? or what have you that has not been given to you? but if it has been given to you, what cause have you for pride, as if it had not been given to you?

7For who distinguisheth thee? Or what hast thou that thou hast not received, and if thou hast received, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

7for 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?

8For even now you are full, even now you have wealth, you have been made kings without us: truly, I would be glad if you were kings, so that we might be kings with you.

8You are now full: you are now become rich: you reign without us; and I would to God you did reign, that we also might reign with you.

8Already 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,

9For it seems to me that God has put us the Apostles last of all, as men whose fate is death: for we are put on view to the world, and to angels, and to men.

9For I think that God hath set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death. We are made a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men.

9for 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;

10We are made to seem foolish for Christ, but you are wise in Christ; we are feeble, but you are strong; you have glory, but we have shame.

10We are fools for Christs sake, but you are wise in Christ: we are weak, but you are strong: you are honourable, but we without honour.

10we <FI>are<Fi> fools because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we <FI>are<Fi> ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;

11Even to this hour we are without food, drink, and clothing, we are given blows and have no certain resting-place;

11Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have no fixed abode.

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

12And with our hands we do the hardest work: when they give us curses we give blessings, when we undergo punishment we take it quietly;

12And we labour, working with our own hands. We are reviled: and we bless. We are persecuted: and we suffer it.

12and labour, working with <FI>our<Fi> own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer;

13When evil things are said about us we give gentle answers: we are made as the unclean things of the world, as that for which no one has any use, even till now.

13We are blasphemed: and we entreat. We are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all, even until now.

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

14I am not saying these things to put you to shame, but so that, as my dear children, you may see what is right.

14I write not these things to confound you: but I admonish you as my dearest children.

14Not <FI>as<Fi> putting you to shame do I write these things, but as my beloved children I do admonish,

15For even if you had ten thousand teachers in Christ, you have not more than one father: for in Christ Jesus I have given birth to you through the good news.

15For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.

15for 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;

16So my desire is that you take me as your example.

16Wherefore, I beseech you, be ye followers of me as I also am of Christ.

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

17For this cause I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and true child in the Lord; he will make clear to you my ways in Christ, even as I am teaching everywhere in every church.

17For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful in the Lord. Who will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus: as I teach every where in every church.

17because 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.

18Now some are full of pride, as if I was not coming to you.

18As if I would not come to you, so some are puffed up.

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

19But I will come to you in a short time, if it is pleasing to the Lord, and I will take note, not of the word of those who are full of pride, but of the power.

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

19but 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;

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

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

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

21What is your desire? is my coming to be with punishment, or is it to be in love and a gentle spirit?

21What will you? Shall I come to you with a rod? Or in charity and in the spirit of meekness?

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