| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. | 1A person should consider us in this way: as servants of Christ and managers of God's mysteries. |
| 2Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. | 2In this regard, it is expected of managers that each one of them be found faithful. |
| 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. | 3It is of little importance to me that I should be evaluated by you or by any human court. In fact, I don't even evaluate myself. |
| 4For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. | 4For I am not conscious of anything against myself, but I am not justified by this. The One who evaluates me is the Lord. |
| 5Therefore 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 one’s praise will come from God. | 5Therefore don't judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God. |
| 6Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. | 6Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the saying: "Nothing beyond what is written." The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over another. |
| 7For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? | 7For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn't receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn't received it? |
| 8You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! | 8You are already full! You are already rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us--and I wish you did reign, so that we could also reign with you! |
| 9For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. | 9For I think God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die: We have become a spectacle to the world and to angels and to men. |
| 10We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! | 10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! |
| 11To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. | 11Up to the present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are poorly clothed, roughly treated, homeless; |
| 12And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; | 12we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; |
| 13being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. | 13when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the world's garbage, like the dirt everyone scrapes off their sandals. |
| 14I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. | 14I'm not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children. |
| 15For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. | 15For you can have 10,000 instructors in Christ, but you can't have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. |
| 16Therefore I urge you, imitate me. | 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me. |
| 17For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. | 17This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church. |
| 18Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. | 18Now some are inflated with pride, as though I were not coming to you. |
| 19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. | 19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk but the power of those who are inflated with pride. |
| 20For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. | 20For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. |
| 21What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? | 21What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? |
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