| New King James Version | International Standard Version |
| 1Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. | 1Think of us as servants of the Messiah and as servant managers entrusted with God's secrets. |
| 2Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. | 2Now it is required of servant managers that each one should prove to be trustworthy. |
| 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 a very small thing to me that I should be examined 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 my conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who examines me. |
| 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, stop judging prematurely, before the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is now hidden in darkness and reveal the motives of our hearts. Then each person will receive his praise 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. | 6Brothers, I have applied all this to Apollos and myself for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what the Scriptures say. Then you will stop boasting about one person at the expense of 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 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 receive 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 already have all you want! You have already become rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you really were kings so that we could be kings 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 it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display in last place, like men condemned to death. We have become a spectacle for the world, for angels, and for people to stare at. |
| 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 the Messiah's sake, but you are wise in the Messiah. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored. |
| 11To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. | 11We are hungry, thirsty, dressed in rags, brutally treated, and homeless, right up to the present. |
| 12And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; | 12We wear ourselves out from working with our own hands. When insulted, we bless. When persecuted, we endure. |
| 13being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now. | 13When slandered, we answer with kind words. Even now we have become the filth of the world, the scum of the universe. |
| 14I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. | 14I'm not writing this to make you feel ashamed, 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. | 15You may have 10,000 mentors who work for the Messiah, but not many fathers. For in the Messiah Jesus I became your father through the gospel. |
| 16Therefore I urge you, imitate me. | 16So 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. | 17That's why I sent Timothy to you. He is my dear and dependable son in the Lord and will help you remember how I live for the Messiah Jesus as I teach everywhere in every church. |
| 18Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. | 18Some of you have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to evaluate 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 it's the Lord's will. Then I'll discover not only what these arrogant people are saying but also what power they have, |
| 20For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. | 20for the kingdom of God isn't just talk, but also power. |
| 21What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? | 21Which do you prefer? Should I come to you with a stick, or with love and a gentle spirit? |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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