1 L et a man regard us in this manner, as servants 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 I n this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

Here, moreover, it is required of stewards, that they 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. Yes, I don’t 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 I know nothing against myself. Yet I am not justified by this, but he who 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 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 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.

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 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 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 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.

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, 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 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 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 you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.

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

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

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

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

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 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 admonish you as my beloved children.

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

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 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 exhort you, be imitators of me.

I beg you therefore, be imitators of 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.

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 have become arrogant, 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 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 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 does not consist in words but in power.

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

21 W hat do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with 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?