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

Let a man so reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God,

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

and as to the rest, it is required in the stewards that one may 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.

and to me it is for a very little thing that by you I may be judged, or by man's day, but not even myself do I judge,

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 of nothing to myself have I been conscious, but not in this have I been declared right -- and he who is discerning 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.

so, then, nothing before the time judge ye, till the Lord may come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of the darkness, and will manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then the praise shall come to each 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.

And these things, brethren, I did transfer to myself and to Apollos because of you, that in us ye may learn not to think above that which hath been written, that ye may not be puffed up one for one against the other,

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 doth make thee to differ? and what hast thou, that thou didst not receive? and if thou didst also receive, why dost thou glory as not having received?

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.

Already ye are having been filled, already ye were rich, apart from us ye did reign, and I would also ye did reign, that we also with you may reign together,

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 did set forth us the apostles last -- as appointed to death, because a spectacle we became to the world, and messengers, 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 fools because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;

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

unto the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and wander about,

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

and labour, working with own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer;

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 spoken evil of, we entreat; as filth of the world we did become -- of all things an offscouring -- till now.

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

Not putting you to shame do I write these things, but as my beloved children I do admonish,

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 if a myriad of child-conductors ye may have in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus, through the good news, I -- I did beget you;

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

I call upon you, therefore, become ye followers 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 sent to you Timotheus, who is my child, beloved and faithful in the Lord, who shall remind you of my ways in Christ, according as everywhere in every assembly I teach.

18 N ow some are puffed up as though I will never come to you.

And as if I were not coming unto you certain were puffed up;

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 quickly unto you, if the Lord may will, and I will know not the word of those puffed up, but the power;

20 F or the kingdom of God is not in words, but in virtue.

for not in word is the reign of God, 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 ye wish? with a rod shall I come unto you, or in love, with a spirit also of meekness?