1 Corinthians 4:12-14

Expanded Bible

¹² We work hard with our own hands [^CPaul earned his own living so as not to burden the church and to avoid accusations of profiting from the Gospel; 1 Thess. 2:9]. When people ·curse [insult; revile] us, we bless them. When they ·hurt [persecute] us, we ·put up with it [endure; persevere]. ¹³ When they ·tell evil lies about [slander] us, we ·speak nice words about them [answer gently; or humbly appeal; entreat]. Even today, we are treated as though we were the garbage of the world—·the filth of the earth [^Leveryone’s scum/filth; or scum/filth in everyone’s eyes].

¹⁴ I am not writing this to make you feel ashamed, but to ·warn [admonish; correct] you as my own ·dear [beloved] children.