1 Corinthians 4:12-18
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 4
12and we labor, working with our own hands; when we are verbally abused, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we reply as friends; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.
14I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15For 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.
16Therefore I urge you, be imitators of me.
17For 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.
18Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.
King James Version
Chapter 4
12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 4
12we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the scum of the earth, like everyone's garbage.
14I'm not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children.
15For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don't have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
16Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
17This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
New Living Translation
Chapter 4
12We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. 13We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash — right up to the present moment.
14I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
15For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.
16So I urge you to imitate me.
English Standard Version
Chapter 4
12and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.
14I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
15For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
16I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
17That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
18Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.
New International Version
Chapter 4
12We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world--right up to this moment.
14I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.
15Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
16Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
17For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
New King James Version
Chapter 4
12And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
14I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
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.
16Therefore I urge you, 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.