4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
4:1 Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.

4:2 Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
4:2 In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.

4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4:3 But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you, or by [any] human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.

4:4 For I know nothing against myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
4:4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.

4:5 Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.
4:5 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.

4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not (to go) beyond the things which are written; that no one of you be puffed up for the one against the other.
4:6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to exceed what is written, in order that no one of you might become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.

4:7 For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?
4:7 For who regards you as superior? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

4:8 Already are ye filled, already ye are become rich, ye have come to reign without us: yea and I would that ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
4:8 You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and [I] would indeed that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.

4:9 For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.
4:9 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.

4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.
4:10 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.

4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;
4:11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;

4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
4:12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

4:13 being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things, even until now.
4:13 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.

4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
4:14 I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

4:15 For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet (have ye) not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel.
4:15 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.

4:16 I beseech you therefore, be ye imitators of me.
4:16 I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.

4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.
4:17 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.

4:18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you.
4:18 Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.

4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them that are puffed up, but the power.
4:19 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.

4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
4:20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power.

4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
4:21 What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod or with love and a spirit of gentleness?