1 Corinthians 4

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Accordingly, let man consider us to be ministers of Christ and attendants of the mysteries of God.	1 Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Here and now, it is required of attendants that each one be found to be faithful.	2 Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
3 But as for me, it is such a small thing to be judged by you, or by the age of mankind. And neither do I judge myself.	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 have nothing on my conscience. But I am not justified by this. For the Lord is the One who judges me.	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 And so, do not choose to judge before the time, until the Lord returns. He will illuminate the hidden things of the darkness, and he will make manifest the decisions of hearts. And then each one shall have praise from 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 so, brothers, I have presented these things in myself and in Apollo, for your sakes, so that you may learn, through us, that no one should be inflated against one person and for another, not beyond what has been written.	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 what distinguishes you from another? And what do you have that you have not received? But if you have received it, why do you glory, as if you had 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 So, now you have been filled, and now you have been made wealthy, as if to reign without us? But I wish that you would reign, so that we, too, 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 has presented us as the last Apostles, as those destined for death. For we have been made into a spectacle for the world, and for Angels, and for 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 So we are fools because of Christ, but you are discerning in Christ? We are weak, but you are strong? You are noble, but we are ignoble?	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 to this very hour, we hunger and thirst, and we are naked and repeatedly beaten, and we are unsteady.	11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clad and roughly treated, we wander about homeless
12 And we labor, working with our own hands. We are slandered, and so we bless. We suffer and endure persecution.	12 and we toil, working with our own hands. When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
13 We are cursed, and so we pray. We have become like the refuse of this world, like the reside of everything, even until now.	13 when slandered, we respond gently. We have become like the world's rubbish, the scum of all, to this very moment.
14 I am not writing these things in order to confound you, but in order to admonish you, as my dearest sons.	14 I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15 For you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, but not so many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, through the Gospel, I have begotten you.	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 Therefore, I beg you, be imitators of me, just as I am of Christ.	16 Therefore, I urge you, be imitators of me.
17 For this reason, I have sent you Timothy, who is my dearest son, and who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere, 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 Certain persons have become inflated in thinking that I would not return to you.	18 Some have become inflated with pride, as if I were not coming to you.
19 But I will return to you soon, if the Lord is willing. And I will consider, not the words of those who are inflated, but the virtue.	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 words, but in virtue.	20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
21 What would you prefer? Should I return to you with a rod, or with charity and a spirit of meekness?	21 Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a gentle spirit?