1 Corinthians 4

DOUAI-RHEIMS	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God.	1 Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Here now it is required among the dispensers, that a man be found faithful.	2 Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.
3 But 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.	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 am not conscious to myself of any thing, 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 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.	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 But 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.	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 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 ?	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 You 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.	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 apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death: we are made a spectacle to 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 you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honourable, but we without honour.	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 hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed abode;	11 To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clad and roughly treated, we wander about homeless
12 And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it.	12 and we toil, working with our own hands. When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
13 We are blasphemed, and we entreat; we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all 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 write not these things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children.	14 I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15 For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by 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 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.	16 Therefore, I urge you, be imitators of me.
17 For 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.	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 As if I would not come to you, so some are puffed up.	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 that 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 speech, but in power.	20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
21 What will you ? shall I come to you with a rod; or in charity, 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?