1 Corinthians 4

Paul teaches that apostles are stewards of the mysteries of God and that it is the Lord who judges, so they should not judge before the time. He contrasts the Corinthians' pride with the apostles' suffering, and warns them as a father that he will come to them and test not their words but their power.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.	This is how one should 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.	Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
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.	With me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by You or by any human court. In fact, 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.	I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted by this. It is the Lord 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.	Therefore do not judge anything before the appointed time — wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. Then each person will receive His 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.	I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, so that you may learn from us the meaning of "not beyond what is written," so that none of You will be puffed up in favor of one 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?	For who makes You different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? If You received it, why do You boast 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.	Already You have all You want! Already You have become rich! Without us You have become kings! How I wish You really were kings, so that we might be 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.	For I think that God has set forth us apostles last, as men appointed to death; for we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.
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.	We are fools for Christ's sake, but You are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but You are strong! You are honored, but 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;	To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty. We are poorly clothed, brutally treated, and have no settled home.
12	And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:	We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless. When we are persecuted, we endure it.
13	Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.	When we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world — right up to this moment.
14	I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.	I am not writing this to shame You, but to warn You as my 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.	Even if You had ten thousand guardians in Christ, You do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became Your father through the gospel.
16	Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.	I urge You, then, 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.	That is why I sent You Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind You of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
18	Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.	Some of You have become arrogant, as though 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.	But I will come to You soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.
20	For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.	For the kingdom of God is not in words but in power.
21	What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?	What do You prefer? Shall I come to You with a rod, or in love with a gentle spirit?