1 L et a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.

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

2 I n this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

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

3 B ut to me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.

But 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.

4 F or I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.

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

5 T herefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.

Therefore, 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.

6 N ow these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.

And 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.

7 F or who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

¶ 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?

8 Y ou are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.

Now 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.

9 F or, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

For 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.

10 W e are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.

We 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.

11 T o this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;

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

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

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

13 w hen we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.

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

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

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

15 F or if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

For 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.

16 T herefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.

Therefore, I beseech you that ye imitate me.

17 F or this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

¶ 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.

18 N ow some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.

Now some are puffed up as though I will never come to you.

19 B ut I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power.

But 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.

20 F or the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.

For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in virtue.

21 W hat do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

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