The Work of the Apostles
1 Think of us as servants of Christ who have been given the work of explaining God's mysterious ways. 2 And since our first duty is to be faithful to the one we work for, 3 it doesn't matter to me if I am judged by you or even by a court of law. In fact, I don't judge myself. 4 I don't know of anything against me, but this doesn't prove I am right. The Lord is my judge. 5 So don't judge anyone until the Lord returns. He will show what is hidden in the dark and what is in everyone's heart. Then God will be the one who praises each of us.
6 Friends, I have used Apollos and myself as examples to teach you the meaning of the saying, “Follow the rules.” I want you to stop saying one of us is better than the other. 7 What is so special about you? What do you have that you were not given? And if it was given to you, how can you brag? 8 Are you already satisfied? Are you now rich? Have you become kings while we are still nobodies? I wish you were kings. Then we could have a share in your kingdom.
9 It seems to me that God has put us apostles in the worst possible place. We are like prisoners on their way to death. Angels and the people of this world just laugh at us. 10 Because of Christ we are thought of as fools, but Christ has made you wise. We are weak and hated, but you are powerful and respected. 11 Even today we go hungry and thirsty and don't have anything to wear except rags. We are mistreated and don't have a place to live. 12 We work hard with our own hands, and when people abuse us, we wish them well. When we suffer, we are patient. 13 When someone curses us, we answer with kind words. Until now we are thought of as nothing more than the trash and garbage of this world.
14 I am not writing to embarrass you. I want to help you, just as parents help their own dear children. 15 Ten thousand people may teach you about Christ, but I am your only father. You became my children when I told you about Christ Jesus, 16 and I want you to be like me. 17 This is why I sent Timothy to you. I love him like a son, and he is a faithful servant of the Lord. Timothy will tell you what I do to follow Christ and how it agrees with what I always teach about Christ in every church.
18 Some of you think I am not coming for a visit, and so you are bragging. 19 But if the Lord lets me come, I will soon be there. Then I will find out if the ones who are doing all this bragging really have any power. 20 God's kingdom isn't just a lot of words. It is power. 21 What do you want me to do when I arrive? Do you want me to be hard on you or to be kind and gentle?
IV.
1 Tai tad, ikvins myusus lai atzeist par Kristus kolpim un Dīva nūslāpumu pōrvaļdnīkim. 2 Nu pōrvaļdnīka nikas cyts nateik praseits, kai tik tys, lai ikvins byutu uzticeigs. 3 Man ir vīna olga vai jyus mani tīsojat, vai arī cyta kaida cylvāku tīsa; bet es pats sevis natīsoju. 4 Un lai gon es nikō sevī naapzynu, tūmār ar tū es veļ naasmu attaisnōts. Muns tīsōtōjs ir Kungs. 5 Tai tad, prīkšlaiceigi natīsojit, koleidz Kungs atnōks. Jys ceļs gaismā arī tū, kas tymsumā ir nūglobōts un atklōs sirds nūdūmus. Tad ikvins nu Dīva sajims teikšonu.
6 Brōli, tū es atteicynoju uz sevi un Apollonu jyusu dēļ, lai jyus nu mums mōceitūs (nūlykumam): Na vairōk par tū, kai stōv raksteits. Nivins nu jums lai nav uzpyuteigs kam par lobu uz ūtra rēkina. 7 Un kas tad tev dūd prīkšrūceibu? Un kas tev ir, kō tu naesi sajēmis? Bet jo tu esi sajēmis, kō tad tu dīžojis itkai nabyutu sajēmis?
8 Jyus jau asot seiti, jau bogōti palykuši, bez mums pi vaļdeišonas tykuši? Ak, kaut jyus byutu pi vaļdeišonas tykuši, tad arī mes ar jums reizē vaļdeitu! 9 Mums apostolim, kai līkās, Dīvs ir īrōdejis pādejū vītu, kai ļaundarim, kas ir nūtīsōti uz nōvi, jo mes pasauļam, engelim un cylvākim asom nūstōdeiti kai uz skotuves. 10 Kristus dēļ mes asom muļki, bet jyus ikš Kristus gudri; mes asom vōji, jyus asot stipri; jyus asot īcīnāti, mes pasmōdāti. 11 Leidz pat šai stundei mes cīšam bodu, slōpes, plykumu un teikam šausteiti, un mums nav nūmetnes. 12 Mes pyulejamēs un strōdojam poši ar sovom rūkom. Myusus lōd, bet mes slavejam, myusus vojoj, bet mes tū pacīteigi panasam. 13 Myusus saimoj, bet mes prīcynojam. Mes asom palykuši kai pasauļa māsli, kai vysu atkrytums leidz pat šam.
14 Es šytū rokstu na tōpēc, lai jyusus aizkaunātu, bet gon, lai jyusus kai sovus nūmīļōtūs bārnus pōrsorgōtu. 15 Lai gon jums ikš Kristus byutu daudzi tyukstūšu mōceitōju, tūmār nav daudz tāvu, jo ikš Jezus Kristus caur Evangeliju es jyusus dzemdēju. 16 Tai tad, es jyusus uzaicynoju: Sekojit munam pīmāram (kai es Kristus pīmāram sekoju).
17 Es pi jums syuteju Timoteju, sovu nūmīļōtū un uzticeigū ikš Kunga dālu, lai jys ikš Jezus Kristus jums atgōdynōtu munu mōceibu, kas ir ikš Kristus, kai es jū vysur, kotrā draudzē sludynoju. 18 Daži dīžojās itkai es pi jums naīsarasšūt; 19 bet, jo Dīvam labpatiks, es pi jums dreizā laikā aizīšu un pazeišu na uzpyuteigū vōrdus, bet jūs spāku, 20 jo Dīva vaļsteiba napastōv vōrdūs, bet gon spākā. 21 Kō jyus grybat? Vai lai es pi jums eju ar reiksti, vai arī mīlesteibas un mīrmīleibas gorā?
