1 L et a man so reckon us as officers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God,

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

2 a nd as to the rest, it is required in the stewards that one may be found faithful,

In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

3 a nd 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,

But 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.

4 f or 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:

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

5 s o, 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.

Therefore 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.

6 A nd 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,

Now 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.

7 f or 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?

For 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?

8 A lready 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,

You 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.

9 f or 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;

For, 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.

10 w e fools because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;

We 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.

11 u nto the present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and wander about,

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

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

and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

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

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

14 N ot putting you to shame do I write these things, but as my beloved children I do admonish,

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

15 f or 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;

For 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.

16 I call upon you, therefore, become ye followers of me;

Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.

17 b ecause 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.

For 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.

18 A nd as if I were not coming unto you certain were puffed up;

Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.

19 b ut 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;

But 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.

20 f or not in word is the reign of God, but in power?

For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.

21 w hat do ye wish? with a rod shall I come unto you, or in love, with a spirit also of meekness?

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