1 Corinthians 4

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.	1 Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.	2 Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
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 It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself;
4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.	4 I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord.
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 make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone 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 I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written, so that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over against 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?	7 Who confers distinction upon you? What do you possess that you have not received? But if you have received it, why are you boasting 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 You are already satisfied; you have already grown rich; you have become kings without us! Indeed, I wish that you had become kings, so that we also might become kings 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 For as I see it, God has exhibited us apostles as the last of all, like people sentenced to death, since we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and human beings alike.
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 on Christ's account, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;	11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clad and roughly treated, we wander about homeless
12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:	12 and we toil, working with our own hands. When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
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 when slandered, we respond gently. We have become like the world's rubbish, the scum of all, to this very moment.
14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.	14 I am writing you this not 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.	15 Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.	16 Therefore, I urge you, be imitators of me.
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 For this reason I am sending you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord; he will remind you of my ways in Christ (Jesus), just as I teach them everywhere in every church.
18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.	18 Some have become inflated with pride, as if 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 which are puffed up, but the power.	19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I shall ascertain not the talk of these inflated people but their power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.	20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk 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 Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a gentle spirit?