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Read the Bible

Easy-to-Read Version

1 Corinthians 4:12

We work hard with our own hands to feed ourselves. When people insult us, we ask God to bless them. When people treat us badly, we accept it.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Forgiveness;   Minister, Christian;   Paul;   Persecution;   Self-Denial;   Suffering;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Business Life;   Church;   Good for Evil;   Industry;   Jews;   Love;   Paul;   Persecution;   Suffering for Righteousness' S;   Virtues;   Work, Physical;   The Topic Concordance - Disciples/apostles;   Persecution;   Suffering;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Industry;   Meekness;   Persecution;   Reviling and Reproaching;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Patience;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Blessing;   Corinthians, First and Second, Theology of;   Wealth;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Presbyterians;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Paul;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Disciples;   Persecution in the Bible;   1 Corinthians;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Manna;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Anger;   Arts;   Benediction ;   Evil-Speaking;   Hand;   Labour (2);   Paul (2);   Persecution;   Persis ;   Reproach (2);   Reviling;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Forgiveness;   Scribes;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for May 31;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for February 3;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
King James Version (1611)
And labour, working with our owne hands: being reuiled, wee blesse: being persecuted, we suffer it:
King James Version
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
English Standard Version
and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
New American Standard Bible
and we labor, working with our own hands; when we are verbally abused, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
New Century Version
We work hard with our own hands for our food. When people curse us, we bless them. When they hurt us, we put up with it.
Amplified Bible
We work [for our living], working hard with our own hands. When we are reviled and verbally abused, we bless. When we are persecuted, we take it patiently and endure.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;
Legacy Standard Bible
and we labor, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;
Berean Standard Bible
We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
Contemporary English Version
We work hard with our own hands, and when people abuse us, we wish them well. When we suffer, we are patient.
Complete Jewish Bible
we exhaust ourselves working with our own hands for our living. When we are cursed, we keep on blessing; when we are persecuted, we go on putting up with it;
Darby Translation
and labour, working with our own hands. Railed at, we bless; persecuted, we suffer [it];
Geneva Bible (1587)
And labour, working with our owne handes: we are reuiled, and yet we blesse: we are persecuted, and suffer it.
George Lamsa Translation
And labor, working with our own hands: being cursed we bless, being persecuted, we endure it;
Good News Translation
we wear ourselves out with hard work. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;
Lexham English Bible
and we toil, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;
Literal Translation
and labor, working with our own hands. Being cursed, we bless; persecuted, we bear;
American Standard Version
and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
Bible in Basic English
And with our hands we do the hardest work: when they give us curses we give blessings, when we undergo punishment we take it quietly;
Hebrew Names Version
We toil, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
International Standard Version
We wear ourselves out from working with our own hands. When insulted, we bless. When persecuted, we endure.Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28; 23:34; Acts 7:60; 18:3; 20:34; Romans 12:14,20; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8; 1 Timothy 4:10; 1 Peter 2:23; 3:9;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and we labour, working with our hands. They revile us, and we bless; they persecute us, and we endure;
Murdock Translation
and we toil, working with our own hands: they defame us, and we bless: they persecute us, and we endure it:
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And labour, working with our owne handes. We are reuyled, and we blesse. We are persecuted, and suffer it.
English Revised Version
and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
World English Bible
We toil, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
Weymouth's New Testament
Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently;
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and we ben vnstable, and we trauelen worchynge with oure hondis; we ben cursid, and we blessen; we suffren persecucioun, and we abiden longe; we ben blasfemyd, and we bisechen;
Update Bible Version
and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
Webster's Bible Translation
And labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it;
New English Translation
We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure,
New King James Version
And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
New Living Translation
We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us.
New Life Bible
We work with our hands to make a living. We speak kind words to those who speak against us. When people hurt us, we say nothing.
New Revised Standard
and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless, being persecuted, we hold on,
Douay-Rheims Bible
And we labour, working with our own hands. We are reviled: and we bless. We are persecuted: and we suffer it.
Revised Standard Version
and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
and laboure workinge with oure awne hondes. We are revysed and yet we blesse. We are persecuted and suffer it.
Young's Literal Translation
and labour, working with [our] own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and laboure and worke with oure awne handes. We are reuyled, and yet we blesse: we are persecuted, and suffre it:
Mace New Testament (1729)
we are fatigu'd by our manual toil: when reviled, we pray: when persecuted, we don't repine:
Simplified Cowboy Version
We daywork to earn a living. We bless those who cuss us and we let it slide when we are abused.

Contextual Overview

7 Who do you think you are? Everything you have was given to you. So, if everything you have was given to you, why do you act as if you got it all by your own power? 8 You think you have everything you need. You think you are rich. You think you have become kings without us. I wish you really were kings. Then we could rule together with you. 9 But it seems to me that God has given me and the other apostles the last place. We are like prisoners condemned to die, led in a parade for the whole world to see—not just people but angels too. 10 We are fools for Christ, but you think you are so wise in Christ. We are weak, but you think you are so strong. People give you honor, but they don't honor us. 11 Even now we still don't have enough to eat or drink, and we don't have enough clothes. We often get beatings. We have no homes. 12 We work hard with our own hands to feed ourselves. When people insult us, we ask God to bless them. When people treat us badly, we accept it. 13 When people say bad things about us, we try to say something that will help them. But people still treat us like the world's garbage—everyone's trash.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

labour: 1 Corinthians 9:6, Acts 18:3, Acts 20:34, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:8, 1 Timothy 4:10

being reviled: Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28, Luke 23:34, Acts 7:60, Romans 12:14, Romans 12:20, 1 Peter 2:23, 1 Peter 3:9, Jude 1:9

being persecuted: Matthew 5:11, 1 Peter 3:14, 1 Peter 4:12-14, 1 Peter 4:19

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 13:14 - sitting Psalms 89:51 - they have Matthew 26:52 - Put John 9:28 - they 1 Corinthians 9:12 - but 1 Corinthians 9:15 - I have 1 Corinthians 9:27 - I keep 2 Corinthians 6:4 - necessities 2 Corinthians 11:27 - in hunger Ephesians 1:1 - which Philippians 4:11 - in respect 1 Thessalonians 4:11 - to work

Cross-References

Genesis 4:3
At harvest time, Cain brought a gift to the Lord . He brought some of the food that he grew from the ground, but Abel brought some animals from his flock. He chose some of his best sheep and brought the best parts from them. The Lord accepted Abel and his gift.
Genesis 4:14
You are forcing me to leave the land, and I will not be able to be near you or have a home! Now I must wander from place to place, and anyone I meet could kill me."
Genesis 4:17
Cain had sexual relations with his wife. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son named Enoch. Cain built a city and gave the city the same name as his son Enoch.
Genesis 4:18
Enoch had a son named Irad. Irad had a son named Mehujael. Mehujael had a son named Methushael. And Methushael had a son named Lamech.
Genesis 4:23
Lamech said to his wives, "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice! You wives of Lamech, listen to me. A man hurt me, so I killed him. I even killed a child for hitting me.
Genesis 4:24
The punishment for killing Cain was very bad. But the punishment for killing me will be many times worse!"
Leviticus 26:20
You will work hard, but it will not help. Your land will not give any crops, and your trees will not grow their fruit.
Leviticus 26:36
The survivors will lose their courage in the land of their enemies. They will be afraid of everything. They will run around like a leaf blown by the wind. They will run as if someone is chasing them with a sword. They will fall even when no one is chasing them.
Psalms 109:10
Make his children wander around as beggars, forced from homes that lie in ruins.
Hosea 9:17
Those people will not listen to my God, so he will refuse to listen to them. And they will wander among the nations without a home.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And labour, working with our own hands,.... As the apostle did at Corinth, Acts 18:3 and elsewhere; partly to minister to his own necessities, and those of others; and partly that he might not be burdensome to the churches; and also to set an example of diligence and industry to others; though he had a right and power to claim a maintenance of those to whom he ministered.

Being reviled, we bless; as Christ commanded, Matthew 5:44 and the apostle himself directed and exhorted to, Romans 12:14

being persecuted, we suffer it; that is, patiently; neither resisting our persecutors, nor murmuring and repining at our unhappy circumstances; but taking all in good part, as what is the will of God, and will make for his glory.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And labour ... - This Paul often did. See the note at Acts 18:3; compare Acts 20:34; 1Th 2:9. 2 Thessalonians 3:8.

Being reviled - That they were often reviled or reproached, their history everywhere shows. See the Acts of the Apostles. They were reviled or ridiculed as Jews by the Gentiles; and jeered by all as “Nazarenes,” and as deluded followers of Jesus; as the victims of a foolish superstition and enthusiasm.

We bless - We return good for evil. In this they followed the explicit direction of the Saviour; see the note at Matthew 5:44. The main idea in these passages is, that they were reviled, were persecuted, etc. The other clauses, “we bless,” “we suffer it,” etc. seem to be thrown in “by the way” to show how they bore this ill treatment. As if he had said “we are reviled; and what is more, we bear it patiently, and return good for evil.” At the same time, that he was recounting his trials, he was, therefore, incidentally instructing them in the nature of the gospel, and showing how their sufferings were to be borne; and how to illustrate the excellency of the Christian doctrine.

Being persecuted - See the note at Matthew 5:11.

We suffer it - We sustain it; we do not revenge it; we abstain from resenting or resisting it.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 4:12. Working with our own hands — They were obliged to labour in order to supply themselves with the necessaries of life while preaching the Gospel to others. This, no doubt, was the case in every place were no Church had been as yet formed: afterwards, the people of God supplied their ministers, according to their power, with food and raiment.

Being reviled, we bless, c.] What a most amiable picture does this exhibit of the power of the grace of Christ! Man is naturally a proud creature, and his pride prompts him always to avenge himself in whatever manner he can, and repay insult with insult. It is only the grace of Christ that can make a man patient in bearing injuries, and render blessing for cursing, beneficence for malevolence, &c. The apostles suffered an indignities for Christ's sake for it was on his account that they were exposed to persecutions, &c.


 
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