1 Corinthians 4:12
New International Version
We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

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.

English Standard Version
and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when 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;

Berean Literal Bible
and we toil, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

King James Bible
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

New King James Version
And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being 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;

NASB 1995
and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

NASB 1977
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;

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.

Christian Standard Bible
we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
we labor, working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

American Standard Version
and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And we toil as we labor with our hands. They dishonor us and we bless; they persecute us and we endure.

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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And we labour, working with our own hands: we are reviled, and we bless; we are persecuted, and we suffer it.

English Revised Version
and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We wear ourselves out doing physical labor. When people verbally abuse us, we bless them. When people persecute us, 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;

International Standard Version
We wear ourselves out from working with our own hands. When insulted, we bless. When persecuted, we endure.

Literal Standard Version
and labor, working with [our] own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

Majority Standard Bible
We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

New American Bible
and we toil, working with our own hands. When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

NET Bible
We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure,

New Revised Standard Version
and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;

New Heart English Bible
We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, 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;

Weymouth New Testament
Homes we have none. Wearily we toil, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we bear it patiently;

World English Bible
We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.

Young's Literal Translation
and labour, working with our own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Fools for Christ
11To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12 We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13when we are slandered, we answer gently. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.…

Cross References
John 15:20
Remember the word that I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.

Acts 18:3
and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.

Romans 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

2 Corinthians 11:8
I robbed other churches by accepting their support in order to serve you.

Ephesians 4:28
He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.

1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.


Treasury of Scripture

And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

labour.

1 Corinthians 9:6
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

Acts 18:3
And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

Acts 20:34
Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.

being reviled.

Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Luke 6:28
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 23:34
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

being persecuted.

Matthew 5:11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

1 Peter 3:14
But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1 Peter 4:12-14,19
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: …

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1 Corinthians 4
1. In what account the apostles ought to be regarded.
7. We have nothing which we have not received.
9. The apostles spectacles to the world, angels, and men;
13. the filth and offscouring of the world;
15. yet our fathers in Christ;
16. whom we ought to follow.














(12) And labour.--While at Ephesus, whence this letter was written, the Apostle supported himself by working with Aquila and Priscilla at tent-making. This labour was no recreation or pastime with St. Paul, it was hard and earnest work. (See 1Thessalonians 2:8-9; 2Thessalonians 3:8.) That this labour was rendered more excessive from the Apostle's characteristic generosity to others, we may conclude from the expression used in his farewell to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:17-38), "Ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me."

Being reviled, we bless.--A striking contrast to the way in which the Corinthians would act under similar circumstances, and yet a literal obedience to the teaching of the Master (Matthew 5:39; Matthew 5:44). Thus the Apostle became in the eyes of the world, "a fool" for Christ's sake. . . .

Verse 12. - Labour, working with our own hands. St. Paul supported himself by the dreary toil and scant earnings of a tent maker, in the express determination to be no burden upon his converts (Acts 18:3; Acts 20:34; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 9:6; 2 Corinthians 11:7, etc.). Such conduct was the more noble because all mechanical trades were looked down upon by the Greeks as a sort of banausia. And though it was repellent and mechanical work to be handling the strong scented black goats' hair all day, yet by this labour he maintained not only himself but also his brother missionaries (Acts 20:34). Being reviled. The early Christians were falsely accused of the most execrable crimes, so that the very name "Christian" was regarded as equivalent to "malefactor" (1 Peter 4:14, 16). We bless. Herein they obeyed the direct precept of our Lord (Matthew 5:44), as well as his example (Luke 23:44; 1 Peter 2:23; 1 Peter 3:9).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
We work hard
κοπιῶμεν (kopiōmen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 2872: From a derivative of kopos; to feel fatigue; by implication, to work hard.

with [our]
ταῖς (tais)
Article - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

own
ἰδίαις (idiais)
Adjective - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2398: Pertaining to self, i.e. One's own; by implication, private or separate.

hands.
χερσίν (chersin)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 5495: A hand.

When we are vilified,
λοιδορούμενοι (loidoroumenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3058: To revile a person to his face, abuse insultingly. From loidoros; to reproach, i.e. Vilify.

we bless;
εὐλογοῦμεν (eulogoumen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 2127: (lit: I speak well of) I bless; pass: I am blessed. From a compound of eu and logos; to speak well of, i.e. to bless.

when we are persecuted,
διωκόμενοι (diōkomenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1377: To pursue, hence: I persecute. A prolonged form of a primary verb dio; to pursue; by implication, to persecute.

we endure [it];
ἀνεχόμεθα (anechometha)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 430: To endure, bear with, have patience with, suffer, admit, persist.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 4:12 We toil working with our own hands (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 4:11
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