- 4:1 A man should account us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
这样，人应当把我们看作基督的执事，和神的奥秘的管家。
- 4:2 Here, furthermore, it is sought in stewards that one be found faithful.
还有，在此所求于管家的，是要他显为忠信。
- 4:3 But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you or by man's day; rather I do not even examine myself.
至于我被你们察验，或被人审判的日子察验，对我都是极小的事，连我也不察验自己。
- 4:4 For I am conscious of nothing against myself; but I am not justified in this, but He who examines me is the Lord.
我虽不觉得自己有错，却也不能因此得称义，但察验我的乃是主。
- 4:5 So then do not judge anything before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the hearts, and then there will be praise to each from God.
所以在那时以前，什么都不要论断，直等主来，祂要照出暗中的隐情，也要显明人心的意图，那时各人要从神那里得着称赞。
- 4:6 Now these things, brothers, I have transferred in figure to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us the matter of not going beyond what has been written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one, against the other.
弟兄们，我为你们的缘故，将这些事转比到自己和亚波罗身上，叫你们从我们学习不越过所写的，免得你们自高自大，高看这个，鄙视那个。
- 4:7 For who distinguishes you? And what do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though not having received it?
使你与人不同的是谁？你有什么不是领受的？若真是领受的，你为什么夸口，仿佛不是领受的？
- 4:8 Already you are filled; already you have become rich; you have reigned without us. And I would have it indeed that you did reign, that we also might reign with you.
你们已经饱足了，已经丰富了，不用我们，自己就作王了。我巴不得你们果真作王，叫我们也得与你们一同作王。
- 4:9 For, I think, God has set forth us the apostles last of all as doomed to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
我想神把我们使徒显列在末后，好像定了死罪的人，因为我们对世界，就是对天使和世人，成了一台戏。
- 4:10 We are fools because of Christ, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are glorious, but we are dishonored.
我们为基督的缘故是愚拙的，你们在基督里倒是精明的；我们软弱，你们倒强壮；你们有荣耀，我们倒被轻视。
- 4:11 Until the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked and buffeted and wander without a home;
直到今时，我们还是又饥，又渴，又赤身露体，又挨拳打，又居无定所；
- 4:12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Reviled we bless; persecuted we endure;
并且劳苦，亲手作工；被人咒骂，我们就祝福；被人逼迫，我们就忍受；
- 4:13 Defamed we exhort. We have become as the offscouring of the world, the scum of all things, until now.
被人毁谤，我们就善劝；我们成了世界上的污秽，万物中的渣滓，直到如今。
- 4:14 It is not to shame you that I write these things but to admonish you as my beloved children.
我写这些话，不是羞辱你们，乃像劝戒我亲爱的儿女一样。
- 4:15 For though you have ten thousand guides in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
你们在基督里，纵有上万的导师，父亲却不多，因为是我在基督耶稣里借着福音生了你们。
- 4:16 I exhort you therefore, Become imitators of me.
所以我恳求你们要效法我。
- 4:17 Because of this I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church.
因此我已打发提摩太到你们那里去；他在主里是我所亲爱、忠信的孩子；他必提醒你们，我在基督耶稣里怎样行事，正如我在各处各召会中所教导的。
- 4:18 Now some have become puffed up as though I were not coming to you.
有些人以为我不到你们那里去，就自高自大，
- 4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will ascertain not the speech of those who are puffed up but the power.
然而主若愿意，我必快到你们那里去；并且我所要知道的，不是那些自高自大之人的言语，乃是他们的能力。
- 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in speech but in power.
因为神的国不在于言语，乃在于能力。
- 4:21 What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod or in love and a spirit of meekness?
你们愿意怎么样？是要我带着刑杖，还是要我在爱和温柔的灵里，到你们那里去？