1 L et a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

2 H ere, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

3 B ut 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.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.

4 F or I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.

5 W herefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God. Fools for Christ’s Sake

6 N ow these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.

Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

7 F or who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?

For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 A lready are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!

9 F or, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.

For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

10 W e are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!

11 E ven unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;

To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.

12 a nd we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

13 b eing defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.

being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. Paul’s Paternal Care

14 I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

15 F or though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel.

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

16 I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me.

Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

17 F or this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.

For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 N ow some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.

19 B ut I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them that are puffed up, but the power.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

20 F or the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

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

21 W hat will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?