1 ¶ Let us reckon men as ministers of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

So let a man think of us as Christ’s servants, and stewards of God’s mysteries.

2 M oreover, it is required in stewards that each one be found faithful.

Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they be found faithful.

3 B ut with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by man’s judgment; I do not even judge my own self.

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you, or by man’s judgment. Yes, I don’t judge my own self.

4 F or although I have nothing on my conscience, yet am I not hereby justified, but he that judges me is the Lord.

For I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who judges me is the Lord.

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

6 A nd these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes, that in us ye might not learn above that which is written, lest because of one, some of you become puffed up against others.

Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.

7 ¶ For who makes thee to judge? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, what dost thou glory of, as if thou hadst not received it?

For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

8 N ow ye are full, now ye are rich, ye reign as kings without us, and I wish ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.

You are already filled. You have already become rich. You have come to reign without us. Yes, and I wish that you did reign, that we also might reign with you.

9 F or I think that God has 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 displayed us, the apostles, last of all, like men sentenced to death. For we are made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and men.

10 W e are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are prudent 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 wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.

11 E ven unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst and are ill clad and are buffeted and have no certain dwellingplace

Even to this present hour we hunger, thirst, are naked, are beaten, and have no certain dwelling place.

12 a nd labour, working with our own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it;

We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.

13 b eing blasphemed, we intreat; we are made as the filth of this world and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

Being defamed, we entreat. We are made as the filth of the world, the dirt wiped off by all, even until now.

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

I don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

15 F or though ye may have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet ye shall not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.

16 T herefore, I beseech you that ye imitate me.

I beg you therefore, be imitators of me.

17 ¶ For this cause I have sent Timothy unto you, who is my beloved son and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every congregation.

Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every assembly.

18 N ow some are puffed up as though I will never come 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 wills, and will know not the words of those who are puffed up, but the virtue.

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing. 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 words, but in virtue.

For God’s Kingdom is not in word, but in power.

21 W hat will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod or in charity and in the spirit of meekness?

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