1 Corinthians 4
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
Berean Standard Bible
1Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the dispensers of the mysteries of God.
1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2Here now it is required among the dispensers, that a man be found faithful.
2Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.
3But to me it is a very small thing to be judged by you, or by man’s day; but neither do I judge my own self.
3I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.
4For I am not conscious to myself of any thing, yet am I not hereby justified; but he that judgeth me, is the Lord.
4My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.
5Therefore judge not before the time; until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise from God.
5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
6But these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollo, for your sakes; that in us you may learn, that one be not puffed up against the other for another, above that which is written.
6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.
7For who distinguisheth thee? Or what hast thou that thou hast not received? And if thou hast received, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
7For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
8You are now full; you are now become rich; you reign without us; and I would to God you did reign, that we also might reign with you.
8Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!
9For I think that God hath set forth us apostles, the last, as it were men appointed to death: we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men.
9For it seems to me that God has displayed us apostles at the end of the procession, like prisoners appointed for death. We have become a spectacle to the whole world, to angels as well as to men.
10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are honourable, but we without honour.
10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
11Even unto this hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no fixed abode;
11To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
12And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it.
12We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
13We are blasphemed, and we entreat; we are made as the refuse of this world, the offscouring of all even until now.
13when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
14I write not these things to confound you; but I admonish you as my dearest children.
14I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
15For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you.
15Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
16Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.
16Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
17For this cause have I sent to you Timothy, who is my dearest son and faithful in the Lord; who will put you in mind of my ways, which are in Christ Jesus; as I teach every where in every church.
17That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.
18As if I would not come to you, so some are puffed up.
18Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you.
19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will: and will know, not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power.
19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.
20For the kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power.
20For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
21What will you? shall I come to you with a rod; or in charity, and in the spirit of meekness?
21Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
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